Day 25 Christmas Post

Merry Christmas!

I had seen quite some time ago the idea of using digital software to create a calendar that goes into a CD jewel case. The stamp club that meets at my home made CD calendars last year that we stamped. With the launch of My Digital Studio, I was thinking how I could do the same idea, but use the computer instead. Well, I've figured it out!

This is the cover for when the CD case is closed. I used a 5"x5" scrapbook page format and Icicle Photo kit download. For the cover, I trimmed the printed page and mounted it to a piece of Night of Navy card stock.

The pages are made using a brand-new download, Calendar Basics Kit and Calendar Grid Basic Kit. The beauty of using the stamp grid, is it can be resized to fit in the 5"x5" page. The numbers are just done by adding text, then copying and pasting to keep everything in the correct proportions. And, unlike last years pages that were bulky and sometimes difficult to insert in the case, these pages are completely flat!

What a great gift idea!

Well, I'll be showing more pages after I take a break over the next few days from blogging. It's been fun and challenging to post every day through Christmas. Thanks for joining me, and I hope you'll stop back by soon and often.

Day 24 Christmas Post

Today I'm sharing a gift-card holder that is shaped like a purse. I needed something creative to use as a gift-card holder, and this idea fits the bill. It's not my original idea (I can't remember where I first saw it), I just modified it a little bit to fit my needs.

The "purse" base is Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP cut 6"x6" and folded in half. I trimmed the short ends (3" folded ones) at an angle in my paper trimmer; folded corner over to the right as far as the guide goes and cut of the triangle. Repeat for the other side.

The "flap" is a Real Red piece of card stock run through the Big-Shot using the Top-Note die. Score 1/4" on both sides of the center; having the Top-Note aligned so the top is the shorter side. Fold along the score lines. Punch a 1/16" hole on both sides in the middle of the scored area. Thread a 10" piece of Silver Elastic cord (with one end double-knotted) into one hole. Thread through the other hole and then double-knot to keep in place. (Double-knotting is necessary to keep the cord in place.)

Put adhesive on the lower flap and attach one piece of the purse base. To make the embellishment on the front, I used Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, the All Holidays stamp set, Whisper White card stock and the Small Oval punch as well as some Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive.

To attach the gift card, I simply attached 2 Mini Glue Dots to each side of the back of the gift card and pressed it where I wanted on the holder. Voila! Simple, quick and no mess.

Here's another one I made using My Digital Studio to create the paper since I don't own any Night & Day DSP from the Holiday Mini Catalog and wanted to use some Basic Black designer paper. This Designer Series Paper is available as a download for only $4.95 plus tax!

One more day until Christmas. See you tomorrow.

Day 23 Christmas Post

With Christmas only days away, I'm sharing a gift packaging idea today.

The idea came from a pattern shared at the 2008 SU! Convention by Linda Hansen. It uses a 12"x12" piece of card stock or patterned paper. I used a sheet of the flocked designer series paper, Christmas Cocoa, out of the Holiday Mini Catalog.

The assembly is actually quite simple. Along one 12" side, score at 2", 5-3/4", 7-3/4" & 11-1/2". Turn the paper 45 degrees and score at 2" (score lines should be perpendicular to one another). Now, snip along the vertical score lines 2" up to the 2" horizontal score line. The small 1/2" x 2" piece in the one corner, cut off completely. Then fold along the score lines and adhere, using Sticky Strip, the 1/2" side to the gift bag and the bottom closed.

I folded the top down 2" and punched the edge with the Scallop Trim Border punch (available starting January 5th during Sale-a-Bration). It's amazing how well the new punches punch through a couple layers. Punch a couple of 1/8" holes for the ribbon, and tie a piece of Whisper White Organza ribbon through. I added a small tag made from the Scallop Circle and 1-3/8" Circle punches, Real Red and Whisper White card stock, Christmas Punch stamp set, and Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers.

Day 22 Christmas Post

I'm really excited about what I'm sharing with you today. A friend showed me last year how to make bookmarks using leather string, beads and charms. It got me thinking, why can't you do something similar with ribbon and parts from the Pretties Kit? You can!

I started with a 20 inch piece of Kraft Taffeta ribbon (the finished bookmark is 11 inches for the spine area of the book) and knotted each end to leave room for the book spine. You need to cut the ribbon at a sharp point in order to thread all the beads through. Then, just decide your pattern and knot and slide beads.

Here's a picture of just the bookmark. These would make great last-minute gifts for Christmas and only took a few minutes to assemble.

Day 21 Christmas Post

What do you get when you cut into a soda can? This card's embellishment of course!

There is very little stamping on this one. The "Merry Christmas", from Four the Holidays stamp set, was stamped in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with Silver embossing powder. But, that's it for the stamping.

The card base is Soft Suede and the layers are Rich Razzleberry and the snowflake design from Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper.

The ornament is a piece of soda can, run through the Big Shot machine with the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder and then punched with the Ornament punch. I like the reverse side, so that's what I chose for this card. The ornament attaches easily with Mini Glue Dots. A piece of Elastic Silver Cord finishes everything off. Very simple.

Day 20 Christmas Post

Today's post begins the final week of my 25 days of Christmas. What fun it's been to create a new project every day.

The stamp sets used on this card were Patterned Pines and Four the Holidays, both from the Holiday Mini Catalog. Colors are Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Confetti White and Whisper White (craft ink for the "Peace on Earth" image).

The pine tree is the center tree from the trio of trees on the stamp. I used an Always Artichoke craft spot to ink just the center tree and stamped it onto a piece of Always Artichoke card stock. Then, it was embossed with Clear embossing powder and cut out and attached to the Confetti White card stock with Stampin' Dimensionals. I love those things!

To give just a little pizzaz, I added a light blue rhinestone brad from the Square Ice Rhinestone brads.

I hope you will check back tomorrow.

Day 19 Christmas Post

Can you believe there are only 6 days left until Christmas? How the time has flown by. Well, for today's post I've made a small gift bag from a lunch sack. It's an oldie, but a goodie!

To start, use a plain lunch sack (mine was a white one, but a traditional lunch sack would work too), and trim the height to about 7-1/2". Measure the width of the lunch sack and cut a piece of Almost Amethyst card stock 8" high by the width that you measured (mine was 5-3/8") and another piece of Almost Amethyst card stock 10" high by the same width.

Position the sack (aligning the sack on the folded side first) on the longer piece and attach with adhesive. Decorate the shorter piece (here I used the Snow Buddies set from the Holiday Mini catalog) and attach to the other side, matching the lower edges of both pieces of card stock and adhere with adhesive. Score the longer piece of card stock along the top edge of the sack and fold. Decorate further as desired. I chose to add a trim from a piece of Bashful Blue card stock that was punched with the new Scallop Trim Border punch (coming with Sale-A-Bration on January 5th). To close the bag, I added a small piece of velcro that has adhesive on the back sides.

Day 18 Christmas Post

Today I'm sharing yet another card.

The card base is a 4-1/4"x11" piece of Kraft card stock, folded to make a finished card of 4-1/4"x5-1/2". The textured flower layer is made using the Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder for the Sizzix Big-Shot and Bravo Burgundy card stock. I added some Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint over the embossed flowers.

The "Christ is Born" image is from the stamp set of the same name, and is stamped using VersaMark ink onto Very Vanilla card stock and a mixture of Gold embossing powder and Dazzling Diamonds glitter (mixed at about a 50/50 ratio) is poured on top and then heat set. It's layered onto a piece of Brushed Gold card stock and attached to the card with Stampin' Dimensnionals. A 5/8" Bravo Burgundy ribbon tied around the right side finishes it off.

Day 17 Christmas Post

If you need to make some thank-you notes to send for after Christmas, today's post will help you. These note-cards are super quick to make, so doing a bunch is not a problem.

The note cards use the cut and pre-folded note cards with envelopes (available in packages of 20, item #107311, $5.95) and scrap pieces of Whisper White and Pretty In Pink card stock. Ink colors used are Pretty In Pink and Basic Black, and the stamp sets used are Christmas Punch and Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Day 16 Christmas Post

Today's post is a simple 6"x3" card. You can get 4 of them from a 12"x12" sheet of card stock. It uses the Punch Pals and Four for the Holidays stamp sets, Old Olive and Very Vanilla card stock.

Day 15 Christmas Post

For today's post, I've done a 3-D item. The Christmas tree is made using the O Christmas Tree Pop-Up Bigz die from the Holiday Mini Catalog. After cutting out all the pieces out of Old Olive card stock, I textured it using the Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions folder. Once assembled, I attached it to a scallop circle (using Sticky Strip) cut from the Scallop Circle #2 die from chipboard. The Christmas Cocoa Specialty designer series paper was cut from the same die and glued to the chipboard. The star is from the tree decorations Sizzlit die out of Brushed Silver card stock. Finally, the "Merry Christmas" from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, was stamped using Real Red Classic ink and punched out with the Modern Label punch.

Day 14 Christmas Post

Only 11 days left until Christmas.

Another card for today's post. This one is made using the Cold & Cuddly stamp set from the Holiday Mini catalog, and the Four the Holidays also from the Holiday Mini. The card base is Night of Navy card stock cut at 8-1/2"x11" and folded along the 8-1/2" side at 4-1/4" and then one 4-1/4" side folded in half again. The snowflakes are from the Snowfall printed window sheets attached using Mini Glue Dots. To get the "Merry Christmas" stamp split top and bottom instead of horizontally, use a Stamp-a-ma-jig and a marker. Ink the "Merry" and stamp, clean the stamp well and then do the same for the "Christmas" portion.

Day 13 Christmas Post

For today's post, I'm sharing another card. This card uses the stamp set Delightful Decorations. The ornament image is stamped onto Confetti White card stock in VersaMark ink. Heat & Stick powder is then applied over the ink and heated with the heat tool. While the powder is still hot, Rose Pink Fine Cosmo glitter was applied and heated once more with the heat tool. After a few seconds, I punched it out with the coordinating Ornament punch.

The base of the card is Old Olive card stock. The trim at the top is made with a strip of Confetti White card stock and the Eyelet border punch. A piece of 1/2" Old Olive striped ribbon is tied around the center of the trim. Draw a line down from the center of trim using a Signo White Gel pen, and attach the punched ornament over it and to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by.

Day 12 Christmas Post

After yesterday's post, this one is a bit simpler and MUCH quicker!

The card base is a 11"x4-1/4" piece of Whisper White card stock. A 5-1/4"x4" piece of Taken With Teal card stock is layered onto that, followed by a 5"x3-3/4" piece of Holiday Lounge double-sided paper. The Christmas saying is from the "Heard from the Heart" stamp set and is stamped in Whisper White Craft ink onto Taken with Teal card stock (1"x4-1/8") then heat embossed with White embossing powder. The snowflakes are punched with the Jumbo Snowflake punch from Whisper White card stock and attached with a Clear Rhinestone brad. A Whisper White Organza ribbon finishes off everything.

Day 11 Christmas Post

I think I've out-done myself with today's post. The "girl" stamp image is from a brand new set that will be available starting January 5th in the Occasions Mini Catalog, called Tote-ally Tess. She's an updated Stella Stamper in my opinion.

I'm stretching making this card fit into my 25 Days of Christmas posts by using a santa hat from the retired Crab & Co. stamp set. I just couldn't help it! And I love how the card turned out.

The houses in the background are from the Neighborhood Jumbo wheel. All images were colored in using either the Water Wonder Crayons or Classic Stampin' pads and the Aqua Painter. The sidewalks and the street are just card stock (Going Gray and Basic Black). I cut out "Tess" and the houses. Crazy, I know, but oh so worth it! The "snow" is the white glitter from the Chunky Essentials glitter, applied to Multi-purpose glue.

We're almost half-way there. Come back tomorrow for more Christmas inspiration.

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Visit my Online Store to find great deals today. www.amytaylor.stampinup.net

Day 10 Christmas Post

Today's post shares a sneak peek from the 2010 Sale-a-Bration brochure.

This non-traditonal color scheme is a bit out of my comfort zone. I'm not a big "brights" kind of person. However, this card works. The card base is Green Galore card stock and the snowflake image from Patterned Pines stamp set is stamped in Green Galore Classic ink . The tree image, also from the Patterned Pines stamp set, is stamped using Green Galore, Positively Pink and Lovely Lilac Craft spots and embossed with Clear embossing powder onto Whisper White card stock. It's then layered onto a piece of Lovely Lilac card stock with Stampin' Dimensionals.

The Positively pink border trim is from the Scallop Trim Border punch (available starting January 5th for FREE with a $50 order during Sale-a-Bration). And to finish it all off, a Whisper White grosgrain ribbon is tied around the trim.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check back tomorrow for more Christmas inspiration.

Day 9 Christmas Post

Today I'm sharing with you a four section gift box that is filled with Christmas gift tags. The tags are made using the Delightful Decorations stamp set and the matching Ornament punch. To make attaching these tags easy, I stamped them first onto Whisper White card stock (colors used are Old Olive, Rich Razzelberry, Crushed Curry and Soft Suede), then ran them through a sticker machine with the permanent adhesive inserted, then punched out the ornament tags.

The box is a pattern shared by Stampin' Up! to their demonstrators and made using Soft Suede card stock. I added a sleeve made from the Snowfall printed window sheets to slide the box into. It's then finished off with a Soft Suede Polka-Dot ribbon and a small tag tied with crochet thread.

Thanks for stopping by!

Amy's December Special

Day 8 Christmas Post

Today I made a Christmas gift card holder. It's perfect for those last minute gift card purchases to give them a "homemade" feel.

The base is made from Real Red card stock, cut 4-1/4"x6-5/8". Score it along the 6-5/8" side at 2-3/8" and 4-7/8". Fold along the score lines. The 1-3/4" section if the top flap. Punch the center of the 2-3/8" section with the 1" circle punch half-way down, then attach along the right and left sides using Sticky Strip.

The "a gift for you ...Merry Christmas" image is from the Christmas Punch stamp set and was colored using Real Red and Glorious Green markers on Whisper White card stock. This was punched out using the Large Oval punch, then layered onto a piece of Glorious Green card stock that was punched using the Scallop Oval punch. Attach this along the top half to the upper flap.

To finish it off and keep it closed, tie a piece of 1/2" Real Red striped ribbon around the top of the gift card holder.

Here is a picture of the gift card holder open:

Come back tomorrow to see what day 9 has in store.

Day 7 Christmas Post

Continuing with my 25 days of Christmas, here is today's post.

Card closed (this is what you see on the front).

Card opened up.

This card is called a tri-shutter card, and I've been wanting to try one for awhile now. This seemed like a great time to do that.

The stamps used are Delightful Decorations (from the Holiday Mini Catalog) and Christmas Punch (a level 2 hostess set). The base of the card uses Sahara Sand card stock, and the Designer Series paper is Holiday Lounge. The ornaments were stamped onto Ruby Red card stock using VersaMark ink and embossed. Two were embossed using Iridescent Ice embossing powder, and two embossed using gold embossing powder. They were then punched out using the matching Ornament punch. Two are "hung" using gold elastic cord and finished at the top with Kraft taffeta ribbon.

The "A merry little Christmas to you" was stamped onto Whisper White card stock with VersaMark ink and embossed with gold embossing powder. It was then cut out and layered onto a piece of Ruby Red card stock that was punched using the Wide Oval punch.

I hope you come back tomorrow to see the next project! Let me know what you are thinking about my 25 days of Christmas.

Day 6 Christmas Post

Today's addition to my 25 days of Christmas is a Christmas card using non-traditional colors.

The base of the card is Soft Suede card stock with a piece of Shimmery White and Rich Razzelberry card stock as accent colors. The snowflake image is from the Pattened Pines stamp set and is stamped using Whisper White Craft ink. You can't tell with the photo, but the snowflakes shimmer, because after applying the Whisper White ink, I sponged on top of the ink some Champagne Mist Shimmer paint and then stamped it onto the card stock.

To finish everything off, the Merry Christmas image (from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set) was stamped using Soft Suede Classic ink onto Shimmery White card stock and punched out using the Word Window punch. It's then layered onto a piece of Rich Razzelberry card stock that was punched out using the Modern Label punch and attached to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals. Whisper White Taffeta ribbon was tied around the left side for the final touch.

Come back tomorrow to see what's in store for day #7!

Day 5 Christmas Post

It's the 5th day of December and time for the next Christmas post. Today it's a luminary to go around a simple inexpensive votive cup.

The luminary is made using a 3"x10" piece of printed window sheet. In this case, it's the Snowfall printed window sheets from the Holiday Mini catalog (item #116805). The scalloped lower edge is made with a strip of Bravo Burgundy card stock that I scalloped one edge using the Scallop Edge punch and then attached it to the lower edge with a strip of Sticky Strip.

The trees are from the Patterned Pines stamp set, stamped using Always Artichoke Craft ink and embossed using Clear embossing powder. (Be careful when heating the powder on window sheets, and keep the heat tool moving!) A medium sized clear rhinestone brad was added to the middle tree. The entire piece is then overlapped about 1" and adhered using more Sticky Strip.

Come back tomorrow!

Day 4 Christmas Post

Well, there are 21 days left until Christmas so today I'm posting a Christmas ornament for today's project.

I used a piece of balsa wood (you can find balsa wood at any craft or hobby store) cut in an oval shape using the Sizzix Big-Shot and the Ovals die. The snowman image from Holiday Lineup was stamped onto it using Jet-Black Staz-On ink. Then, I colored in the image using a blender pen and Water Wonder Crayons. The hole in the top was made with the paper-piercing tool. To give a nice finish, I stamped the entire oval with a VersaMark pad and then covered it in Glassy Glaze embossing powder. This I repeated 2 more times. A piece of elastic gold cord is tied for a hanger. Then I added a Bravo Burgundy bow made from 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and attached it to the top with a Mini Glue Dot.

Come back tomorrow to see the day #5 post.

Day 3 Christmas Post

For todays Christmas project I'm sharing another Christmas card.

This card uses the stamp set Big on Christmas and the snowflake image from Patterned Pines (a level 1 hostess set in the Holiday Mini catalog). The card is 4-1/4"x5-1/2" (finished size) Ballet Blue, with the front fold, folded in half one more time. The snowman image is stamped twice and one cut out and colored in with markers, then attached with Stampin' Dimensionals to lift it up. The snowflakes are stamped on the Ballet Blue fold with both Ballet Blue Classic ink and Whisper White Craft ink. The Confetti White piece of card stock on the inside of the card is stamped using Ballet Blue Classic ink that was stamped-off once. To finish it all up, a snowflake was punched out using the Jumbo Snowflake punch and Confetti White card stock and attached using a clear rhinestone brad.

Come back tomorrow for day 4!

Day 2 Christmas Post

Today I'm sharing with you another Christmas card. It's a different take on a card made by my friend Kathy.

It uses Handsome Hunter card stock and Christmas Cocoa Specialty designer series paper, window sheets, Kraft taffeta ribbon, Four the Holidays stamp set and some gold embossing powder. Quick and simple to put together.

Christmas Reindeer Card

With only 24 days left until Christmas, I'm planning on posting one Christmas project each day. So, keep coming back to see what is new.

This card has very little stamping on it. The Merry Christmas was stamped with the Four the Holidays stamp set (#116921 $13.95) in VersaMark ink and embossed using silver embossing powder. The decorative paper along the left side is Christmas Cocoa Specialty (#116770 $11.95). This pattern is one of 2 that are one-sided but flocked to give some texture.

The reindeer image is made using punches. The head is made using the large oval punch, the eyes using the 1/8" circle punch (both the white and the black), the nose uses the 1/2" circle punch, the ears are from the 5-Petal Flower punch, and the antlers are from the Jumbo Snowflake punch. All pieces are glued together and then the reindeer is attached using Stampin' Dimensionals over a length of Whisper White Taffeta ribbon that is tied around the card front. A very simple card. I hope you enjoy it.