Dressing up Candles

I have the honor of being a part of the Stampin' Fun and Friends Christmas Dreams design team for the month of November.  You can check out the blog and projects HERE.  Decorating a candle is very easy.  I cut out the snowflakes using the Northern Frost Die and Stampin' Up!'s awesome Silver Glimmer paper.  I used a paper piercing tool to poke a small hole and then anchored a a snowflake using a Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads to the candle.  Very easy, but has such an elegant look!  I also used a 3/4" circle punch to accent and fill in where needed with Silver Glimmer paper.  What do you think?  I will also be selling these candles at the upcoming Holiday Boutiques I will participating in on December 3rd and 4th!

I bought the candle holder shown below years ago on clearance from Land's End.  I thought I would try and "dress" it up a bit.  Again, I used the Silver Glimmer paper and Northern Frost die for the snowflakes.  This time I attached the snowflakes to the glass candle holders using mini-glue dots.  I then added pearls in the middle.  I like the look, and it is so pretty when you light all the candles!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look - here's a list of supplies:

Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Frost Die, Silver Glimmer Paper, Rhinestone Brads, Pearls, Mini-Glue Dots, Paper Piercing Tool, Candles

Ho Ho Christmas Banner

Look what I made last night - I treated myself for my birthday and purchased the Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies.    This banner was so easy to put together!  The only thing NOT made with my Big Shot are the felt wreath and the snowflakes/flowers.  One more reason why I LOVE my Big Shot - it makes projects like this so easy to do!  To hang the banner, I secured some gold cording on the back with 3-4 mini-glue dots and then put a 3/4" Real Red circle punch over the cording, and then added a couple more glue dots.  Since they are so easy to make, I think crank out a couple more for the upcoming Holiday Boutiques I will be at December 3rd and 4th.  Here's what I used for this fun, and super easy project:

Papers: Whisper White, Red Glimmer Paper, Garden Green, Real Red, Retired SU! DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies, Holiday Stocking Die, Petals-a-Plenty EF, Snow Burst EF, Stocking Accents Die, 3/4" and 1/4" Circle Punches, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Retired SU! Snowflake Punch, Real Red Glimmer Brad, Winter Wishes Stitched Felt, Chocolate Chip 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool, Mini-Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Gold Cording

Creative Sketches Challenge

I used a retired SU holiday kit for some of the items used in my card for this week's Creative Sketches Challenge.  Here is the sketch:

And below is my card.  I found some DSP and punch outs from an old SU holiday kit and used them on this card.  I can't even tell you the name of the kit; it's that old!  But here's the list of items I used:

Stamps: None
Papers: Whisper White, Real Red, Retired DSP
Inks: None
Accessories: Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty EF, Stocking Builder Punch, Mini Jingle Bells, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Real Red Brads, Green Galore Brads, Paper Piercing Tool, Dimensionals

More Holiday Boutique Shares

Thought I would share 2 more items I will be selling at the upcoming Holiday Boutiques I will be participating in.

The box below is actually on the clearance rack on the SU! site.  You get a package 5 boxes for ONLY .99!!!  So I bought a bunch of them, and they are so cute once you "dress" them up - especially if you use the Winter Wishes Stitched Felt pieces and the cute Holly Berry Boutique Buttons from the Holiday Mini!  I punched out 5 circles for the wreath using a 1/4" circle punch and the Red Glimmer DSP, and used mini-glue dots and dimensionals to attach the embellishments.

Stamps, Inks: None
Papers: Red Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons, Winter Wishes Stitched Felt, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Snowflake Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Real Red Glimmer Brad, Treat Box, Mini-Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool

I really like how the calendar/mini post-it-note holder turned out.  I found a stash of Botanical Gazette DSP to use for the background.  I stamped 2 flowers and used a blender pen to soften the edges.  Cut then out and popped them up with dimensionals.  The details on what I used is below:

Stamps: Field Flowers, Nature Walk (bee)
Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Papers: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Botanical Gazette DSP
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Distressing Tool, Early Espresso Brads, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, SAMJ, Calendar, Mini Post-it-Note, CD Case, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip Tape, Blender Pen

Stocking Gift Card Holder

Below is another gift card holder that I am making for the craft boutique.  Basically it's 2 stockings made using the Holiday Stocking die from the Holiday Mini - I cut one stocking using Real Red c/s, and the other using Holly Berry Bouquet DSP.  I used some sticky strip tape and put it across the middle of the Real Red stocking, and then attached the DSP stocking to it.  These creates the pocket for the gift card.  I then sewed the 2 stockings together using my trusty Singer sewing machine (I have had this baby since 1976!).  I cut a 12" x 2" strip of Silver Glimmer paper and ran it through the Big Shot, using the Northern Frost Die.  I used 3 of the snowflakes from the strip and attached a Garden Green button tied with Early Espresso Baker's Twine.  I cut out 2 circles from the Red Glimmer paper using a 1/4" circle punch, and attached them in the middle of the snowflakes using mini-glue dots.  I ran the accent stocking pieces through the Big Shot using the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.  Next I added a line of Dazzling Diamonds glitter along the end, and added a saying punched out using a small oval punch.  I love the dies and how easy they are for creating some really cute, fast and fun projects!

Stamps: Happy Holidays saying (retired SU stamp)
Inks: Real Red
Papers: Real Red, Whisper White, Silver and Red Glimmer DSP, Holly Berry Bouquet DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Holiday Stocking Die, Petals-a-Plenty EF, Northern Frost Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Small Oval Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Garden Green Button, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 2-Way Glue Pen, Sticky Strip Tape, Mini-Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Sewing Machine/Thread

Top Note Die Gift Card Holder

I am working on projects for an upcoming Craft Boutique in December, and came up with this gift card holder using the Top Note Die.  It's pretty simple to make.  I ran 2 pieces each of Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler through the Big Shot using the Top Note Die.  I then ran both of the white cardstock pieces through the Big Shot using the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder.  I cut the border off one of the pieces of the Whisper White Top Note die, and then layered in a piece of Cherry Cobbler c/s.  I then cut on of the pieces of Cherry Cobbler c/s in-half to create the pocket for the gift card holder.  I used the Frostwood Lodge DSP, Stocking Builder Punch and scrap pieces of SU's awesome glitter paper for the stockings.  I punched out a snowflake using a retired SU punch and attached the snowflake and a brad.  The brad was placed through both the gift card holder front and the bottom layer of the Whisper White c/s.  Here's the details:

Stamps: Pennant Parade (Merry), and Happy Holidays retired SU stamp
Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso
Papers: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Frostwood Lodge DSP, Glimmer Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Northern Flurry EF, Stocking Builder Punch, Snowflake Punch, Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Mini Jingle Bells, Silver Glimmer Brads, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin' Dimensioanls

Creative Sketches Challenge Card

Thanks for stopping by for this week's Creative Sketches Challenge.  Fun challenge this week and I had a fun time using the new die, Stocking Accents from the Holiday Mini, for this card.  Here is the sketch:

And below is my card.  Because I am a paper "horder", I used scrap pieces of Real Red Card Stock and Holly Berry Bouquet DSP for the ornaments.  I thought the DSP ornaments needed to have a defined color behind them.  So I cut 2 Real Red ornaments and used them as backing for each DSP ornament.  I had some left over retired tinsel ribbon and used that for a border.  I tied some silver cording around the neck of each ornament, and then added a jingle bell.  Here's a list of what I used:

Stamps: Happy Holiday stamp
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Real Red Marker
Papers: Real Red, Very Vanilla, Holly Berry Bouquet DSP
Accessories: Big Shot, Stocking Accents Die, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Small Oval Punch, Jingle Bells, Tinsel Ribbon, Silver Cording, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini-Glue Dots

BIG SHOT AND HOSTESS BENEFITS GIVE AWAY!

November is my birthday month, and I am
GIVING AWAY A BIG SHOT!

• I will offering FREE shipping on all orders!
• Your order must be $50.00 or more to be eligible to win a Big Shot. Your name will then be entered into a drawing to win the Big Shot - the more your order, the more chances you have of winning!
• I will be ALSO BE GIVING AWAY THE HOSTESS BENEFITS!!! Which can amount to $85.00 in FREE product with the promotion Stampin' Up! is doing right now!
• Deadline to email me your order is: Saturday, November 5th

Creative Sketches Challenge Card

Welcome to this week's Creative Sketch Challenge.  I am a little under the weather right now with what I am hoping is not the flu, and almost didn't get my card done this week.  Below is this week's sketch; please consider playing along!!  You can upload your challenge card HERE.

And below is my card and list of what I used to make it.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are having a great Thursday!

Stamps: Retired SU! Happy Holidays Stamp

Inks: Cherry Cobbler Inkpad and Marker

Papers: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Frostwood Lodge DP

Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle Bigz Die, Petals-a-Plenty EF, Snowflake Punch, Red Glitter Brad, 1/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Winter Wishes Stitched Felt, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Creative Sketches Challenge Card

Welcome to my blog and this week's Creative Sketches Challenge.  Below is this week's sketch:

And below is my card.  I had a hard time taking a picture of the card this morning.  It have been raining off/on all day and not very bright outside, and wasn't able to take the best picture of my card.  For this card I made a "lollie" using Stampin' Up!'s new Simply Scored scoring tool.  I scored a 1-1/2" x 12" piece of card stock, folded the pleats and secured the ends with a piece of sticky strip.  Here's the list of what I used:

Stamps: Saying from the retired set, Button Bear
Inks: Early Espresso
Papers: Whisper White, Garden Green, Real Red, Silver and Red Glimmer Paper, Frostwood Lodge DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Snowflake EF, Northern Frost Die, Snow Burst EF, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Stocking Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch, Mini Jingle Bells, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Scissors, Mini Glue Dots

LNS Friends Challenge Card

Fun challenge this week over at LNS; we had to use the colors Night of Navy, River Rock and Cajun Craze in a project.  I made a similar card this week for this weeks Creative Sketches Challenge, and wanted to see how these colors would work with the same layout.  I dyed a piece of white baker's twine using a sponge and a Night of Navy inkpad.  I 2-step stamped the flowers and then cut them out.  I found a retired Hedgepodge Hardware hinge  and threaded a piece of Very Vanilla Satin ribbon through the opening.  Thanks for stopping - hope you have a great day!

Stamps: Field Flowers, Nature Walk, You're a Gem
Inks: Cajun Craze, Night of Navy, River Rock
Papers: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze, Night of Navy, River Rock, First Edition DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Top Note Die, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Oval Punch, Distressing Tool, Hodgepodge HW Hinge, Sponge, Scissors, Dimensionals, White Bakers Twine

Creative Sketches Challenge Card

Thanks for stopping by for this week's Creative Sketches Challenge.  This week's challenge is to create a project using the colors Soft Suede, Cajun Craze and Basic Black, as shown in the picture below.  You can add your own creation on the Creative Sketches Challenge blog, and you can find the blog HERE.

I used one of my favorite sets, Field Flowers, for my project.  I distressed the designer paper and feathered the edges with some Cajun Craze ink and a sponge.  2-step stamped the flowers with the same ink, and cut them out.  I still have some hardware from the Hodgepodge Hardware kits, and added a bracket with Soft Suede ribbon threaded through it.  The bee is from the Nature Walk set and it's stamped in Soft Suede.  Here's the details:

Stamps: Field Flowers, Nature Walk (bee), Because I Care (saying), Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Inks: Basic Black, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze
Papers: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze
Accessories: Distressing Tool, Soft Suede Ribbon, Chantilly 1/2" Ribbon, Small Oval Punch, Basic Black Brads, Paper Piercing Tool, Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware, Sponges, Scissors

Halloween Candy Wrapper

This week's LNS challenge is to make something with a Halloween theme.  Below is a pic of a Halloween candy wrapper that I made.  Once you get the hang of the folds, they really are quite simple to make!  After I make the candy wrapper using a piece of Pumpkin Pie c/s and the Candy Wrapper Die, I ran it through the Big Shot using the Spider Web embossing folder.  I cut out a circle scallop with the Circle Scallop Punch, and embossed that piece with the Spider Web EF.  Stamped the saying in Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black, and cut out the bat.  Used the bird punch to punch out a leave using Basic Black.  I added some Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon to the ends, and there you have it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Batty for You
Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Papers: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Candy Wrapper Die, Spider Web EF, Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Bird Punch, Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Scissors, Sticky Strip Tape (to adhere the wrapper at the end)

Creative Sketches Challenge Card

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my card for this week's Creative Sketches Challenge!  This weeks sketch has an interesting layout, as you can see below:

For my card I used from retired designer paper that I have been hording to make the purses and to use for the background.  I used the Round Tab Punch for the purses (you only use half of the tab) and a retired flower punch for the little accents on the purse handles.  I used a small and medium oval punches to make the purse handles.  Thanks for stopping by - here's the details:

Stamps: Retired Happy Wishes Stamp
Inks: Rose Red
Papers: Whisper White, So Saffron, Rose Red, Bashful Blue, Cutie Pie DP
Accessories: So Saffron, Rose Red and Bashful Blue Brads, Bashful Blue Ribbon, Oval Punches, Round Tab Punch, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool

Autumn Wreath

This was a really busy week for me, so it took a couple of days for me to make the Autumn Wreath below.  The Spice Cake designer paper from the Holiday Mini was perfect to use for this project.  I used a number of embellishments and punches for this project.  I used (2) 1-1/2" x 12" strips, scored at every 1/2" for the large lollies, and (2) 1" x 12" strips scored at 1/2" for the smaller ones.  I used stricky strip tape to adhere the ends together and then a hot glue to add the 1-3/8" circle to the back of the lollies to hold them in place  I used a Here's the details:

Stamps and Inks:  None
Papers: Spice Cake DP, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Brads - More Mustard, Early Espresso, Antique, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Red; Neutral Buttons, Twine, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Punches - 3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Boho Blossoms, Scallop; Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper EF, Glue Gun/Glue Sticks

More views:

Backside view - I added some c/s in different places to strengthen the wreath: