One of my favorite blogs on my feeds list is The Land of Lost Luggage. She's always posting something very creative and I consider her a technique guru. Well, Luggage has moved and she's holding a blog sweepstakes. The winner will receive a coupon for $75 off their next justjohanna order. Read all the details and enter here.
These are some cheerful thank you cards that I made recently. I love this new Basic Grey patterned paper. I layered it on DCWV purple cardstock. I used justjohanna thanks ever so for both cards. In the top card I also used parts of justjohanna created for you by. I embellished the top card with a purple flower and pink bubble gum Stickles. The bottom thanks was colored with prismacolor pencils and embellished with some buttons from the fabric store. (Sorry, the scanner made the bottom card blurry.)
Merry Christmas. Here are some fun pictures from around my house today. The handsome man on the left is my chocolate lab, Paris. The goofball in the apron is my niece. She put on her apron and stuffed the pockets with cookie cutters.
I really enjoyed reading everyone's wishes. I hope that they all come true in the new year. Congratulations to my sweet dreams winner, Tejal. Her wish: "My wish for the new year is to expand creatively...make more cards, try and push the boundries of what I create and not stick to conventional stuff.."
Thanks everyone for sharing your wishes. I'm already collecting goodies for the 10,000 hits sweet dreams. Have a wonderful holiday!
I found this Plaid Paper Mod Podge at Michaels. I have a lot of experience using regular MP on altered papercrafts but thought I'd try this special MP. I love it! The first thing that I noticed is that as a glue, it dries faster than regular MP and the texture was less messy and easy to work with. And, its acid-free and non-yellowing. :)
I made four altered composition notebooks using the the PMP as the glue and sealer. The only issue that I had was on one of the back of the books where I used cheap cardstock. Some of the blue seemed to lift off and get on my foam brush. The rest of the books with patterned papers and better quality cardstock did not have a problem. Also, I would advise not stacking projects until you are 100% certain the sealant is dry. Oops. Otherwise, this was a really easy project.
Below are two of the books I made for my siblings.
Ethan book (age 5) Papers: Basic Grey Mellow, Letter Stickers: Wild Asparagus
DaRue book (age 11) Pink Distressed Paper: Bobunny, Letters and Borders: Wild Asparagus
*Oh, and something fun to check out: Craft Critique Holiday Carnival 1, 2, and 3. My Krispie pops are part of number 3. All three days are chock full of fun ideas for Christmas gifts and decorations.
This is my Christmas version of my Krispie pops. I enjoy making these every year. This year I did a gingerbread man, gift, snowman and santa. They are sooooo easy. See my tutorial here.I made these for the gift exchange at work. So, for the first time, I packaged them individually. I used cellophane cut to fit and added a little double stick tape and ribbon to seal them.
I think they would make a fun stocking stuffer too. If you make some, share your link with me. I'd love to see your version.
Wow, I can't believe I've had over 5000 hits. So, tomorrow (Wednesday) I will be offering some sweet dreams (aka blog candy) for my loyal readers. More details in tomorrow's post.
And, as another treat, I made my Christmas Krispie pops today and took pictures for you. And, I wrapped them cute so you can get a fun gift idea.
I'm not. But, I did work on these ornaments for my mum. I bought the antique, plastic silver ornaments in a box of 6 at the Goodwill store. They had tacky, plastic ribbon on them so I went the Michaels and bought some pretty ribbon, tied them up and voila, instant charm.
I am going to try to go back to Goodwill today. There are always new treasures to discover.
There's a whole lotta green going on on this card. I used justjohanna lacy border (which I added Stickles to the dots) and justjohanna joy to the world which I stamped in TAC pine tree. The paper is from a Provo Craft Christmas slab that I am enjoying.
This is a super fun 3d tree. I got the idea from an old issue of Pack-O-Fun Magazine.
Step 1: Using a circle cutter or trace a plate and use scissors, cut out a 6 inch circle of patterned paper.
Step 2: Fold the circle in half and then in half again.
Step 3: Fold the quarter circle into thirds, radiating from the point.
Step 4: Open up paper so it is a half circle again. Now, fan-fold along previously folded lines.
Step 5: The top picture shows the fold that you do NOT cut on. You want the 2 folds and 2 ends side. Using sharp scissors, cut 3 v's like the bottom picture.
Step 6: Here's a picture of the back. Place some adhesive in the folds.
Step 7: Flip your tree over and adhere it to card front.
Paper: Provo Craft, Stickles.
Optional idea: Make 2 trees and adhere together. Thread string through the top and use as an ornament or on top of a gift.
Pink and Green Shepherd
I LOVE this Elzybells Art Stamps Shepherd. This is the one I ordered from the UK site. Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Patterned Paper: K & Company, Ink: TAC-Native Land, Sparkly brads: Making Memories.
Green Shepherd
Here he is again. I colored his belt and headband with my Olive Green Marvy Brush Marker. Cardstock: Die Cuts With a View (card base), Prism (lighter green), Twill ribbon: Ribbon Bowtique, Satin ribbon: from my stash, Inked edges: Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Walnut Stain, Other: faux evergreen twig attached with glue dots.
Tomorrow I'll have a 3d Christmas tree card with a tutorial. It's even easier than the origami tree. :)
When I saw Marie Kirkwood's ribbon tree on the Stamp Shack, I knew I would have to give it a try. Heaven knows I have ribbon scraps. I put a sparkly heart at the top of the tree from the Target dollar spot. The image and sentiment are Elzybells. The skater girl was an image RAK from my Shack friend, Sherri. The "hello" was a suprise from Elizabeth (Elzybell) in my package from the UK site. I am super happy with my order. I'll post a card with my amazingly adorable shepherd stamp very soon.
Here's a way to easily transform cheap store-bought Christmas cards into pretty Christmas cards or invitations.
Easy Christmas Cards
You'll need: A box of plain, store-bought Christmas cards (I paid $1.74 for 18 cards), Glittery glue, ribbon and a Cropadile.
Step 1: Open up all the cards and stack them face up.
Step 2: Punch two holes on the top of each card.
Step 3: Apply Glittery Glue to the item you want to highlight (I did the star).
Step 4: Cut ribbons to desired length, thread through holes and tie bow.
Invitations
To make an elegant and easy invitation, follow steps above except after step 1, cut the back flap off the cards (so it's like a postcard). And, after step 2, measure your card. Using your word processor program design text for back of card. Print. Then, continue with steps 3 and 4. I made 150 of these babies for our church Christmas party. They were a lot easier than the 2 layer invites with a punched border that I made last year.
If you are like me and you need very specific instructions, this tutorial is for you.To make the origami tree you'll need patterned paper cut to the following sizes: 3" x 3", 2 1/2" x 2 1/2", 2" x 2" and 1 1/2" x 1 1/2". You will follow the steps below with all 4 pieces of paper.
Step 1: fold paper in half. Step 2: Open. Step 3: fold diagonally then open.
Step 4: Fold diagonally the other way. Step 5: Open Step 6: Fold in half along the step 1 fold.
Here's where it gets a little tricky. Step 7: Press the right side of the top fold down. 
Do the same to the left side.
You have formed a triangle, as seen in number 8. Step 9: Take the top layer's triangle tip from the bottom right and fold it towards the center and down. Step 10: Do the same to the right triangle tip. Now, do the 10 steps with the other 3 squares and stack them, adding a little adhesive to each top triangle tip. You can add a star, trunk, ornaments, a tree skirt, gifts, whatever. Have fun!
These are three more samples for the easy card class I'm teaching tonight. Enjoy!
Vintage Christmas Card
Patterned paper and sentiment stickers: DaisyD's, Velvet ribbon: Ribbon Bowtique and red sparkly cardstock.
Origami Christmas Tree Card
I saw several versions of this card on Splitcoast Stampers and several had instructions but written instructions totally go over my head so I'll post a tutorial with pictures this week. I used a bunch of papers that have been in my stash for a while including Provo Craft and Making Memories. The star on top is a Creative Memories sticker.
Fun Cut Out Cupcake Card
I don't know if anyone at the class will like it but I think it's fun. The wrapper is crimped for texture and the sparkly heart was a sticker from Target Dollar Spot. The Stampin Up! Celebrate stamp looks like a signature on artwork to me. I freehand cut out the cupcake and wrapper. Kinda funky. We'll see.
I'm teaching an easy card class at church this Tuesday. I'll be making several samples and put together kits for those cards but I will also let the ladies play with my scraps and stuff. Here's the first 3 samples:
Christmas Tree Card
Cardstock: Prism, Dot papers in squares: Making Memories, in strip: Gooseberry Patch, Ink: StaZon, Stamp: Hero Arts, Sparkly tree sticker: Jolee's. I used a scallop circle punch then punched the regular circle out to make a wreath.
Baby Girl Card
Paper leaves: Prima, brad: ProvoCraft, Cardstock: Prism, Fille (girl in French) paper: purchased in Paris, Pink flower paper: DaisyD's. I used the Fold-It Large 6-petal Flower punch to make the flower.
Basic Grey Mellow Card
Paper: BG Mellow Cultured, Ebb, and Settle Down, Ribbon: Target Dollar Spot. I might still do more like add a sentiment to the corner but I was really trying to make this one super easy.
I'm teaching a Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar class at the Scrapbook Garden on November 10th. Here's a preview.
