Category Archives: Christmas Cards

Christmas Pines

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I love Christmas Greenery.  The smell, the color… (not the pokeys).  So, here is a way to get the fabulous look of the greenery without having raw fingers from all the needles. 🙂

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This uses the Christmas Pines stamp set and the coordinating Pretty Pines Thinlits.  I LOVE it.  I cut the pine branches out of a couple of different greens (artichoke and wasabi) just to give depth and dimension.  I love how the copper thread and the linen thread add both rustic and elegance to this little look.  And, my favorite thing about the stamp set are the sentiments and the fonts.  Easy to read but very nice. The mini-pine cones are a nice touch too.  SU outdid themselves this holiday catalog with the little embellishments.  Subtle, yet perfect.

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I highly recommend the die brush for getting out the little pine branches from the thinlit.  It cuts well, but the brush makes poking them out way easier.  It is definitely a must.

Happy creating for the ‘season of joy’!

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Bringing in Christmas

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I thought I’d share some Christmas Cards.  Cause it’s that time to start thinking about them.  It’s coming soon!

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One of my most favorite sets from the 2016-17 catalog is this Foxy Friends.  And, there are many cute fox cards out there, but I especially LOVE the reindeer.  This set is so versatile.  You can make many different animals.  So it is a MUST.

This is a very simple card.  Some stamps, some twine, and the fabulous jingle bells.  I LOVE JINGLE BELLS.  They were a part of the SU Christmas Collection a couple years back and then were gone and I was so sad.  Now they are back and better than ever cause they come in both silver and red.  And, they are only $4.50 for 60 pieces.  That is a STEAL.  Get some today so you can start making some Christmas cards!  Christmas cards with jingle!

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With the coordinating fox punch, you can cut out the pieces as well.  Here I added some dimension to his face by popping it up just a bit.  Very subtle, but a little touch that makes this card fabulous.  The ivy is another example of how you can ‘shape’ a photo-polymer set to fit how you want.  I curved it a bit more to fit on my card panel and around the reindeer a little tighter.  Very easy.  Just place on the block how you want.

There you go.  Happy Christmas Card making.  More ideas to come.

Super fast Christmas Card

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I just wanted to share with you a super easy, fast-to-make Christmas card. It really doesn’t get any faster or easier than this…

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A couple pieces of that Winter Wonderland washi tape, a scrap of the red foil paper and the tree (from the peaceful pines stamp set and coordinating framelits) stamped in always artichoke. Seriously. Takes 3 minutes to assemble. A rhinestone on top of the tree and some gold cord trim completes the card. Perfect for last minute. (Cause it dawned on me this am that it is the last minute. Now. Cue panic attack….).

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And, I used some of the red envelope paper to make a nice red envelope. This is a 3.5×6 card… It could fit in a #10 envie. But why? We have the envie punch board and the red paper makes it so festive…

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So… There. Fast,simple… And very nice. I happen to have a few of these on hand…let me know if you need…

Christmas in October

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Don’t adjust your computer settings.  You are INDEED seeing 2 blog posts in the same month.  It’s an October Miracle.

 

 

I wanted to share with you some items I made for my club groups this past month.  They wanted to get a head start on Christmas crafting, so our theme was, well… Christmas.  (In the craft world, it  is acceptable to start Christmas crafting before Halloween… just fyi.)

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I just got these wonderful ornament framelits.  (Delicate Ornaments)  actually comes as a bundle with the stamps… called Embellished Ornaments bundle.  (I didn’t actually use the stamps here, but they are nice).

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These pictures don’t do this justice.  But, I cut the ornaments out of the dazzling diamonds glimmer paper.  And OH MY.  I hadn’t bought that paper till now, but it is GORGEOUS.  Makes me want to buy enough to wallpaper my house.  It’s beautifully sparkly, but subtle, as to not overdo everything.

This first pic (above) I decorated one of our Kraft Tag a Bag Gift Bags .(They’re awesome cause they are only $3.50 for 10.)  I love that they are plain…. they are just WAITING for something cute to go on them!

I used a bit of the Tip Top Taupe lace trim and silver sequin trim to complete the top of the ornament.  The peace is from the Christmas Greetings Thinlits,  I cut it out of silver foil.  LOVE the silver foil.  I’m very impressed with it because it’s more of a card stock and not paper.  So, it is sturdier than I expected it to be.

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This is the same concept but applied to the Pillow Box.  I love this little thinlit.  It is PERFECT for little treats or a gift card.  A Christmas Crafting MUST-HAVE.  You can choose to make it with or without the window.  (I should have treats inside, but didn’t have anything at the time of the photograph…need to go shopping).  I textured the front with the ‘Softly Falling’ Textured Impressions Embossing Folder….

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And here is a card with the same design… I did this to show how you can use one simple design and make it work for a variety of options.  The card stock I used on the card and the pillow box is the Tip Top Taupe.  The bow on the card and pillow box is the new silver twine.  We’ve been waiting for this twine.  The card picture is the best one to see the Dazzling Details Glimmer Paper, but it still isn’t that great… you will have to trust me on this… it is amazing.

Anyway, hope this inspires you as you start on your Christmas crafting!!

Coffee!! (Lets try this again…)

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Clearly… If you have signed up for emails when I publish this is the second round of this post…and Clearly… I need some coffee.  (That is what you get for trying to rush around and multitask way too early in the morning).

Anyway, This is the REAL Coffee Post!!

Some of you may know, this weekend is our Maui Stampers’ and Friends Craft Fair!  And, I wanted to give you a little taste of some of the things I will have for sale there.  The first item up for grabs are these little coffee cups!  Complete with carriers!  They are filled with chocolate covered espresso beans (sealed in a cello bag…not just loose).  These would make the PERFECT gift for teachers, co-workers… your favorite coffee lover…  and apparently, me at the moment… 🙂

Attach a gift card to a favorite coffee establishment and you have an instant gift!  It’s perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have singles and double-shots available!!

 

I love the paper straws too…

 

 

Be sure to get there early cause I have a very limited supply of these…  (I may entertain the idea of doing orders, but haven’t decided yet….)

 

OOh, they are so fun.  They were fun to make!  I’m hoping to feature something every day this week… And I will PROMISE to TRY not to upload cryptic blogs posts at the wee hours in the morning….

Here are the details about the Craft Fair!!  Be sure to stop by!  We have lots of ideas for Christmas gifts with a great variety for everyone on your list!!

 

 

Last minute Christmas treats

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I had to share these darling little envelope bags. A friend of mine gave this as a favor at our club Christmas party… Alice is truly talented…
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It was made from an envelope.

I needed a quick project so this is what I made…  (truthfully, was gonna copy hers but the cutting was too detailed for me for as fast as I needed it to be.  Alice is a master.)

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You seal the envelope.Then score 1″ from the edge on 3 edges…

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On the edge that isn’t scored, you cut it off so it is open.  Since I stamped directly on mine I stamped it while it was still flat. Now since this was my first attempt, I realized I should have masked off the edge…  oh well.  This is the Snow Day stamp set. I love it.
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Then you fold it up…
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Basically this consists of making the innie folds into outie folds…  and then glue the little triangles down.

I scalloped the edge of the bag with the scallop punch and used some of the silver ribbon to tie it closed…

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You can fillnit with anything. Its good for those last minute cash gifts that you need something cute to put the money in…  Thanks, Alice for the inspiration…

Best of Snow

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Welcome back to the Best of Tour!!  This week we are focusing on the Best of SNOW.  Trying to create something with this set was a bit difficult in 80 degree Maui, but here is my best attempt… (and, I do genuinely feel sorry for you folks caught in the storms and hope you are safe, but, I gotta say, “nee-ner-nee-ner”)

Anyway, I wanted something simple and serene, so this is what it is:

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I love the new Smoke Slate color.  And I’m finding that I use it ALL THE TIME.  I especially love the textured 12×12 paper…which is what used here…

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The Frosted Finishes embellishment is perfect for this card… I think it was made for the best of snow…  It does make it a bit bulky to mail, but it is so totally worth the bling it adds to the card…

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So, there you have it!!  Thanks for stopping by!!  Now you are off to Deb to see what she has done… perhaps she has had the weather to help inspire her…

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Nancy Amato          http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger      http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley     http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson         http://www.stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis             http://www.thecardladies.com
Sherri Eddleblute      http://www.sweetestdesigns.blogspot.com
Lynn Embrey            http://www.possibilitiestamperstudio.com
Kathy Hamrick          http://www.countryroads.typepad.com
Crystal Kondo           http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh               http://thestampinhut.typepad.com
Anne Matasci            http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Andi Potler                 http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds      http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Sharon Tisdale          http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/coveredbridgesstamper/blog
Janet Wakeland        http://www.remarkablycreated.com

Christmas Goodies

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I wanted to share with you some goodies I made for my next craft fair… little M&M sleeves. With an ornament topper. I love those skinny cello bags.

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A couple of options to choose from. Makes it fun. These are perfect for the kid’s Christmas party. Cause why make only a few when you can make a ton?

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And, if you are bored on Sunday, swing by the Maui High School gym. Between 9-2.  Finish up your Christmas shopping. 

Best of Christmas

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Welcome back to the next best of tour! We are featuring the Best of Christmas. And I am certain this will get you in the holiday mood…

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I just love this little nativity scene. I remember when it originally came out. I loved it. Its a little smaller this time around which makes it perfect for a window card.

And I just got my Endless Wishes stamp set…which is where the wording is from for this card… it is perhaps my favorite Christmas set this year. And that is with my little “difficulty” in using snowflakes in Hawaii… 
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The deco label die with soft suede… completes the card! Super easy super fast. Can make a whole slew of these for your whole card list….

Oh. I did a bad thing… I colored this with the now retired watercolor pencils. Sorry. But they are my favorite pencils… and I still use them.  So. Sorry. But not really.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by! You are off to Deb Lehigh to see what she has for you!


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A Little Christmas Bling

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A Little Christmas Bling

So, if you are like me, you always wait till the last minute to remember to WRAP the Christmas gifts.  And, I must confess…. for Isaac’s first Christmas, I thought I was brilliant in hiding his gifts in his closet (cause he could’t see the top) and totally forgot to get them out before he went to sleep on Christmas Eve.  Not one of my better mothering moments.  But, thankfully, as it was his first Christmas, it took him like 2 weeks to open all his gifts.  Just cause it was overwhelming.  But anyway…

I digress…  I was talking about waiting till the last minute.  And, when you wait till the last minute, you get the gift wrapped, and suddenly remember you need a TAG to go with the brilliantly wrapped gift.  And, that daunting task becomes overwhelming so you settle for those free stick-on to/from tags that the credit card company sends you and there you go.  Except such a wonderful gift with exquisite wrapping should not be degraded by a free to/from sticker.

Enter:  Very Merry Tags.

This set is the end-all of Christmas Tag sets.  The images all have a coordinating punch.  SO, you can make just fast, simple tags with that.  OR, you can step it up a bit more and add some bling.  Now, I must confess, what I’m getting ready to show you took all of 10 minutes to make.  Seriously.  They were that simple.

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I wanted to make a little set of 3×3 cards.  I’ve been fascinated by 3×3 cards lately…  But these are perfect to stick on top of a gift.  And, the glimmer paper makes the tag worthy of a gloriously wrapped package.  And, truth be told, you can give so-so gifts in brilliant packages and everyone will think you are fantabulous.  And, yes.  That is a word.  (For proof, just watch which gifts seem to go first at your next white elephant gift exchange… the beautifully packaged…)

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I love the mistletoe stamp.  And, I originally made the berries red, until I think I remembered that they were white.  Thank goodness we have both red and ‘sparkle’ dazzling details.  (I’m pretty sure they’re white… I know I coulda solved this with a quick google search, but I was on a roll…)  And, did you know mistletoe is the state flower for Oklahoma??  Oh the stuff you can learn on this blog…

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Why use a simple check mark for the nice box when a DIAMOND will do??

 

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I think the Bah Hum Bug is my favorite stamp in the WHOLE set.  Probably because my favorite Christmas T-shirt is one with the grinch.  It’s FUN.  (and my t-shirt has glitter on it TOO–cause Christmas is just. s0. glittery.)

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Here is the WHOLE set.  And, you can make fascinating little envies with the punch board for these too.  Or, you can just stick them on top of the package without an envelope…cause they are beautiful all by themselves.  And, it will be glorious.  And only take you seconds to put together.  Score for Very Merry Tags.

You are off to your next stop!!  Thanks for stopping by!

blogtour-stampmonth-next

 

Nancy Amato           http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger      http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2089191
Jackie Bottomley     http://www.jackiebottomley.blogspot.com
Susan Carlson         http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Tamra Davis            http://www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler         http://www.conniestamps.com
Crystal Kondo           http://www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh               http://thestampinhut.typepad.com
Anne Matasci            http://www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Audra Monk              http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com
Maria Pane               http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com
Andi Potler                http://www.absolutekreations.com
Michele Reynolds     http://www.inspirationink.typepad.com
Pam Staples             http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com
Jeannette Swain       http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com
Janet Wakeland        http://www.remarkablycreated.com