Leftover Christmas Cards...

Leftovers anyone? Some of my Christmas Cards never made it into the blog - so I wanted to give them credit as darn cute!!! 2 Stamp Companies that I love - Unity and Amuse Art Stamps (among a few others sprinkled here and there)!

Card #1 - Unity Poinsettia Card
The cardstock is from SU, but the patterned paper is one of those scrap peices that is from "source unknown" - like from the land of misfit toys! Oh well, I'd love to give the patterned paisley paper credit, but it's simply not known. I absolutely {{{love}}} the ivory & burgundy mix!

Burgundy ink was from Palette Hybrid Inks, Bordeaux. Gold embossing powder looks elegant on the burgundy CS!

Gold wire ribbon was a little tricky! Wire sort of throws me AND my glue dots could be felt through the ribbon. I rubbed the sticky ribbon with a white eraser to dull the sticky. Rhinestone stickers (Walmart) came in handy for the Poinsettia flower center! Love the twinkle!

Card #2 - Country Snowflake Card
I cannot take credit for the idea for this card. Here is the blog, Alli Miles Card Metaphors, I saw this original card from and I was so inspired by it, that I tried my hand at it! White chalk ink by VersaMagic was used for the background snowflakes (The Angel Company Stamps).

Red, white and kraft cardstock all from Stampin' Up. The embossing folder is Provo Craft for Cuttlebug. The button is from DCVW that was sown with white floss by DMC.

Here is the close-up of the snowflake - the recycling-feel-good-warm-fuzzy you feel when you use the leftovers from using your scraps!!!

I am a ribbon NUT! This is a fun "bow" that is really folding into a loop, glue dots to close the loop, another glue dot to smash the loop into a flattened oval, then another small scrap of ribbon to go around the center of the flat oval. Adhere that bow to your ribbon running the width of the card. Ribbon: Bazzill.

Ink: Burnt Umber by Palette Hybrid Ink.

Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind. --Valentine Davies (Miracle on 34th Street)

Christmas Paper Cones

Hi bloggers,

I know it's been a while since my last post. But I am catching up as we speak! I've been so busy, hasn't everyone been? But my creativity has been EXPLODING lately! I am totally excited about these Paper Cones I made for Christmas Day dinner.

My sister--in-law and brother-in-law are hosting dinner this year and she asked me to make some type of place card...well, I could not just do one of those little rectangles with names on them. I went a little over and above on these, but I couldn't help myself! These paper cones template was found here. Originally these cones are to have interlocking hearts for closure on the cone, but I cut mine off. This gave me the ability to close the put the names of my family on each cone. Of course, I filled them with peppermints for a quick after dinner aid to digestion. In Italian-American culture we call this "agita" and who doesn't need a little digestion aids when homemade ravioli's or manicotti is served! Yum, cannot wait for dinner!

Hope my sis-in-law likes these, and I was so honored to be asked! Thanks for looking!

It's hard to see, sorry, but there are some beads (one red, one silver) that I used to place as a bead-tassle on the tip of the cone. My sweet Grandma Mary had a great collection of costume jewelry that I grabbed a few years ago. Do you grab things and say to yourself that they might work for "something?" I scotch-taped them inside the cone just before I assembled the cone with Totally Tacky Tape by Provo Craft!

They are all packed up to be included in the truck with all the presents for Christmas Day with the family! I love practical gifts that work double duty - one its a name card for each person's plate and two, it's an ornament for remembrance for this year! Love that!!!

Recipe: Cone template here/cardstock Stampin' Up/Marvy Clever Lever Snowflake punch, scalloped square punch/Martha Stewart snowflake border punch/small branch punch/buttons from DCWV/rhinestone stickers misc. source/Gold and Silver glitter paper Hobby Lobby 12X12 sheet for snowflake punch/red cording ribbon & silver ribbon from Hobby Lobby/Gold & Silver pigment ink pens from Hobby Lobby/beads for bottom of cone recycled beads.

I want to lead the Victorian life, surrounded by exquisite clutter. Freddie Mercury http://www.brainyquote.com/

Gift Card Holders

Google it on the web "gift card holders" and you'll find so many tutorials that give you the {{{easiest}}} ways to make your very own gift card holders. Last year I sold these at our Church craft show.

They went fast!!! Why?
1. They are cheap!

2. They are easy to make!

3. So many people give gifts in the form of plastic!!! Why not dress those little boogers up?

Take a peak at my latest GC holders for a family who just had a baby girl and baby boy just turned 1 (Irish twins? hee hee!):

{{{Sources: The Angel Company, Martha Stewart/EKSuccess, Stamping Bella, DCWV, Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Copic Markers

*Note: All sources for the 2008 photo showcasing Gift Card Holders from last Christmas are too detailed to note. Please PM me if you want info from any of these projects and I will get that info to you. Thanks!}}}

Through many dangers, toils and snares...we have already come. T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...and Grace will lead us home. The Lord has promised good to me... His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be...as long as life endures. ~Amazing Grace, lyrics by John Newton (1725-1807)