Mocha Memories

Clearly Christmas

I was so excited when Stampin' Up! started carrying the acetate sheets again.  There is so much that you can do with it. 

I decided that my first Christmas card of the season needed to be created using some of the medium weight acetate and 'A Wish for Peace' stamp set was the perfect simple set to use.

To create the floating image, I stamped the dove onto the acetate with black StazOn.  I then flipped the acetate over and filled in the image with Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive and Dazzling Diamonds. 

Once the glue was dry, I then adhered the acetate to the Basic Gray and Basic Black framing and used Pop up Dots to then attach the whole thing to the card base.

You can easily take this card and translate it to something even simpler.  In fact, I used this card to inspire one of the cards that we will be completing during my 'Christmas in July' Stamp-a-Stack.  Want to join us and get ahead this holiday season?  Check out my calendar and email me to reserve your spot.

Be Inspired by Life,

Stamps: A Wish for Peace (111614) 

Ink: Versamark Marker (100901), Black Stazon (101406), Mellow Moss marker (100038), Going Gray marker (109216) 

Cardstock: Basic Black (102851), Whisper White (100730), Basic Gray (108692)  

Accessories: Window Sheets (114323), White Embossing Powder (109132), Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon (109069), Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (110755) 

It's a Pyramid, It's a Tree - No - It's a Favor

I loved QBee's 'Tree box' that she created, but I REALLY hate to use scissors!  HA! HA!  I am so OCD that the lines would never be straight enough for me.  I only create things that I can use my paper cutter for.  I also have had these 'in the works' for awhile but these were for Christmas so I had to wait to bring them out. 

These will be the favors for Christmas, but you could change the colors and use them for anytime of the year.  Since the bottom is square, there is quite a bit of storage room inside.  So wait no longer, here is the tutorial...

Supplies:

• 12" x 6" piece of solid cardstock (Kraft)
• 5 1/2" x 6 1/4" piece of Designer Series Paper (Bella Rose)
• 20" piece of Taffeta Ribbon (White)
• 1/4" Circle Punch 

• Sticky Strip

Directions:

Step 1: Mark your solid cardstock at 3", 6" and 9" along one of the long ends. Mark the opposite long end at 1 ½", 4 ½", 7 ½", and 10 ½". Connect the dots to create four triangles. Cut these out with your personal trimmer.  (Note: You can skip drawing the connecting lines and just connect the dots with your personal trimmer as you cut.)

 

Step 2: Using your left over piece of Kraft cs cut out a 4"x4" square. Score this piece at ½" on all four sides and cut out the four corner squares so that you are left with a square bottom with flaps.

Steps 3: Mark your piece of DSP at 2 ½" and 5". Flip to the opposite long end and mark at 2 ½" and 5" again. Connect the dots and cut out the 4 triangles just as you did in Step 1. Adhere these pieces to your four solid card stock triangles.

 

 

Step 4: To ensure that the ribbon placement is uniform on your box, mark one of your triangles at 3 1/4" on each side. Punch holes for your ribbon using a 1/4" punch at each marking. Use this piece as a template for the other triangles.

Step 5: Attach the triangles to the flaps on your square bottom piece. As you adhere the triangles simply trim off the overhang of each flap so that it is no longer visible behind the triangle side.

 

 

Step 6: Thread your ribbon through the holes and pull closed. You are now ready to decorate for whatever occasion you want.

I used my Lovely Letter stamp set, Designer Label punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, and 1 3/8" Circle Punch to create the focal image on my favor, but BE CREATIVE! 

Be Inspired by Life,

In case you need a printout of the tutorial, I have included it HERE in a pdf version.  Please do not change the original version if you are sharing this with others.  Thanks so much!

Handyman Ornaments

I was browsing the galleries when I first bought my Big Shot through SU! to get an idea of ALL the incredible things that I could create.  I came across a picture from Joan Hajek that really caught my eye.  She used some 'silver hardware tape' and her Big Shot to create some very unique ornaments.  I loved them so much that I had to go to Lowe's and look around for some 'tape'.

I found some metal tape at my Lowe's that would do the trick.  You can find this kind of tape in the section with duct work.  It is used to seal the seams of ductwork.  As this is created out of a very think sheet of metal, it is sturdier than you would expect.  Simply run your Join in the Cheer Decorative Strip and the tape through your Big Shot with the metallic side up (so that your words do not come out backwards).  I immediately became concerned that I would never be able to remove the backing from the tape without complete destroying the words, but this is not a problem.  Do however, try to keep the sentiments close to the original shape so that your letters will come out 'straight' on the ornaments.  Now simply cut the words apart keeping some of the flourish on each word.

I then added these gorgeous words to ornamentsthat coordinated with the SU! On Board Trinkets as this is what my tree is decorated with this year.  This made a very easy and cost effective way to personalize my tree.  These would even make great gifts to others who are just starting out with very limited decorations.  Speaking of last minute gifts, I will show you how to create bookmarks with a gorgeous personal touch next time.  Until then....

Be Inspired by Life,

 

Joys of Christmas Past

Do you ever look back at pictures and just can't remember your kids being that small.  Well, I fell into that frame of mind this weekend.  I was looking back at some pictures that I took of the kids only 3 Christmases ago and can't believe how much they have changed.  Part of me is glad that they are more independent now, but there is that part of me that misses the toddler in each one of them.  I decided that I needed to put those pictures out this year to keep the memories fresh.

I found this frame at Wal-Mart and waited for just the right time to 'embellish it'.  My Jingle All the Way framewas a lonely soul on my end table and this frame went just perfectly with it.  I added some Riding Hood Red ribbon and a small star from my On Board Trinket Ornaments on opposing corners.  I attached the ribbon with a Mini Glue Dot and the star with a Pop-up Glue Dot.  The staying power of both is quite impressive.

Opposite my favorite holiday photos, I placed some Riding Hood Red cardstock embellished with my favorite rub-ons from the Old Saint Nick collection.  I also decided that some snowflakes were in order, but they were larger than the edge of the frame.  No problem....The rub-ons adhered nicely even around the bumpiest of corners.

To finish my frame, I decided that I needed some sentiments.  This sentiment is actually half of the original one contained in the Old Saint Nick rub-ons.  I simply cut it in half and adhered half to each side of the frame. 

My end table is complete!  Now to finish the tree....

Be Inspired by Life,

Jingle Bell Block

I created another Jingle Bell bright spot in my living room.  I used the same size Decor Element as I did for my Shadowbox but this time I decided to use it on an 8" x 8" glass block.  We have seen these for several years now, but Pittsburgh Corning has created a special glass block (DecoBloc) just for crafters.  If you look in your local Michael's in the glass etching section, you can find these PRE-DRILLED glass blocks for filling and decorating.

The opening at the bottom is sufficiently large to fill with your heart's desire, but I decided to fill mine with some small silver ornaments and two strands of mini LED battery-operated lights.  The hole in the bottom of the glass block is then covered with a snap-in plate that has a slit opening for wires.  To complete the look, I added some wide Red Riding Hood Grosgrain around the edge.

Turn the lights out and the LEDs on for some bright holiday cheer!

Be Inspired by Life,

Golden Bells for Framing

WOW!  I hope everyone is well this holiday season.  My family has been bitten with the flu bug this past month.  Yes - MONTH!  It is taking forever for us all to get well, but I am hoping that we are all on the mend.  I am going to have to do some heavy posting to get all my projects in before Christmas.  Can you believe that it is almost here?

My living room is filled with festive handmade decorations with a wonderful bell and star theme.  One of the pieces that I have setting on my end tables was created using some more Decor Elements.  Everyone that visited during the holidays loved my Thanksgiving shadowbox so much that I HAD to create one for Christmas.

I started with the medium Jingle All the Way Decor Element and an 11 x 14 Shadowbox.  I happened upon some gold mini jingle bell garland that I knew would be perfect for the inside of my frame.  To fill the 'empty space' in the upper left hand corner, I added a bow made from my favorite holiday ribbon.

Easy to create and what a WOW! for my guests!

Be Inspired by Life,

From Star to Bells - Handmade Holiday

From the stars in the sky to the jingle bells below, my living room has the perfect handmade holiday charm for me. 

It started innocently enough with creating ornaments using my SU! supplies for my Christmas tree.  Then the tree was not enough, I decided that I wanted to create new decorations for my entire living room.  With my OCD nature in rare form, I decided to use the colors from the SU! Trinket kit out of the Holiday Mini and go to town.

Over the next two weeks, I will show you ornaments as well as home decor that I have created to get just the perfect feel in my living room.  I decided that I would start us off with the mirror that sits over my piano.  This started out as only the Santa and Sleigh rub-on (Medium, red) and some pine garland.

However, as the whole stars and bells theme began to emerge, it became very evident that I needed to use a few ofmy left over stars from the Star Bright DSP Ornaments and some Red Riding Hood Taffeta Ribbon to spruce it up.  The designer series paper ornaments were the perfect choice as the mirror allowed you to see the backs of the stars. 

No need to worry about what the other side of your ornament looks like with double-sided paper.  It will always be JUST AS COORDINATED AS THE FRONT! 

Next time we will venture over to some of my side tables and see what conversation pieces I have for my guests.  Until then...

Be Inspired by Life,

Making Your Gift Card Special

Have you been out in the madness is this morning?  Me?  NO WAY!!  We did most of our shopping on-line and some of that included gift cards for our loved ones who have everything or go out and buy what they want.  The only dilemma we have every year is how to give a gift card that personal, special feel.

This year I have the perfect little gift card holder that will do just the trick.  I found the tutorial for this little gem here.  The only difference is that I decided to use some ribbon to hold my card closed. 

The colors make this card suitable for men and women alike.  So don't fret this season when a gift card makes the perfect present.  You can still make it a VERY personal gift.

Be Inspired by Life,

 

• Stamps: Winter Post (111780), Many Merry Messages (107121)
• Cardstock: Kraft (102125), Real Red (102482), Very Vanilla (101650), Ski Slope DSP (112994)
• Ink: Versamark (102283), Chocolate Chip (100908)
• Accessories: Kraft Taffeta Ribbon (109068), Sticky Strip (104294), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (104401), Word Window Punch (105090), Styled Vanilla HPH (112454)

Pre-Thanksgiving Pizza

Well, you are probably putting the finishing touches on some dishes for tomorrow or just trying to take a break before the turkey chaos ensues.  So while you have a few minutes I had to share the cutest little box that my hostess club created this month.

The Pizza Box was highlighted on SCS and I just knew that it would come in handy for some treats, note cards or gift tags.  The directions for the box can be found here.  These are so simple that I can't add anything to the already incredible tutorial.

So as you think of some simple containers this holiday season, put these at the top of your list! 

Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

 

Stamps:  Winter Post (111780)

Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Real Red (102482), Ski Slope DSP (112994) 

Ink: Real Red Craft Ink (101190), Baja Breeze (111833) 

Accessories: Sticky Strip (104294), White Taffeta Ribbon (109070), 1-3/8" Square Punch (103375), On Board Something Seasonal (112086)

Reduce my Ribbon Use

I just love the Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon in the current SU! Holiday Mini Catalog.  I have used it on my candy jars, my tree, my ornaments, and I still want to use it on my wonderful holiday packages.  WHOA!!!  I also wanted to use it on some Christmas cards this season, so I decided that I needed to find a way to minimize the amount that I used.

To create the faux ribbon wrap on my card, I used two pieces of ribbon and a SU! Build-a-brad decorated with some DSP.  The bottom piece of ribbon was cut slightly larger than the Top Note die so that I would be able to tuck it under each edge.  The top piece of ribbon was cut approximately the same size as the Top Note die so that I would have some room to decoratively cut each end.

I stacked the ribbons making sure that the smaller ribbon was centered.  I opened the prongs of the Build-a-brad and slid the center of the ribbon stack under the prongs.  You may have to work with the edges of the ribbon a little bit to get them to slide completely under the edges of the prong.  I then pushed the prongs back together and......

VOILA!  I have a cute ribbon wrap with minimal ribbon use.  So use ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon on your cards, but always look and see if you can create the same look with a more efficient use of your supplies! 

Be Inspired by Life,

 

Card Supplies:

• Stamps: Winter Post
• Ink: VersaMark, Real Red Marker, Chocolate Chip
• Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red
• Accessories: Top Note Die, Big Shot, Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Build-a-brad