A Pleated Tree
Robin Messenheimer shared a great photo of some Christmas Trees that were displayed in the White House and then she shared a tutorial in her newsletter on how to make them.
I made mine following Robin’s instructions using Old Olive card stock. I added a little glitter in the form of circles I punched from scrap Silver Glitter Paper using the largest eye on the Owl Punch. I think this tree turned out so cute and will look great sitting on the Christmas table this year.
While making this tree I started thinking about how I could decorate a polystyrene cone shape that I have left over from some other projects. 
I cut strips of Very Vanilla card stock and punched one long edge using the Eyelet Border Punch. I sponged Old Olive ink onto the punched edges. I ran each piece through the crimper several times until the card stock was nice and pliable. I started at the bottom of the cone and used dressmaker pins to attach the card stock to the polystyrene cone. I made sure that the bottom of each piece fitted around the cone and then attached the top in 4 places and then just kind of squished the paper to the cone and added pins to keep it in place. How to cover the top had me a bit stumped at first but then I decided to punch a 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle from Very Vanilla card stock and score through the scallops. I also sponged the edges with Old Olive ink. I cut through one of the score lines until I reached the centre of the circle and then cut one scallop away. I concertina folded the score lines and then used Tombow Multipurpose glue to join the scallop together again. I attached this to the tree using Tombow Multipurpose Glue. I punched 2 stars from Silver Glimmer paper using my Star punch (retired) and joined them together back to back with a toothpick between the layers. I then pushed the toothpick into the top of the cone through the Scallop Circle and there you have it – my version of the paper Christmas Tree.
Ok guys, I have been showing you things that I am making for Christmas, how about you share some of your gorgeous creations by adding them to Mr. Linky at Sunny Challenges and Creations. You still have plenty of time and I know that you are all making fabulous things for Christmas.
Bye for now, Kris.
Happy Birthday Abigail
Today is my granddaughter Abigail’s seventh birthday. She is growing into a lovely young lady of whom I am very proud. Her birthday present is a ticket to see Taylor Swift in March next year but it wouldn’t be a birthday without a present so I made a little gift to give to her today.
I used the largest of the Beveled Windowpanes to create a necklace for her. I cut Whisper White card to fit the frame and stamped the “word” image from the Charming stampset (released in the Mini on 1st December) using Certainly Celery ink. I inked the “flower stem” image using Certainly Celery and Regal Rose Stampin’ Write Markers and stamped over the top of the “words”. I attached the image panel to the back of the Beveled Windowpane using Mini Glue Dots. I attached a loop of Certainly Celery 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon to the top of the Beveled Windowpane behind the image panel. 
I cut slits in the image panel matching the slits in the Beveled Windowpane and again wrapped Certainly Celery 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon making sure that the ends were attached to the back. I attached another piece of Whisper White card to the back of the piece to cover all the ends of the ribbon. I cut the “legs” off a Designer Flower brad and used Crystal Effects to attach it to the front of the Bevelled Windowpane. Once the Crystal Effects was dry – I let it sit overnight – I threaded Certainly Celery 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon through the loop at the top of the Beveled Windowpane and attached jewellery rings and a lobster closing to the ends of the ribbon so that she can wear it as a necklace. 
Of course I needed a way to present the necklace, so I created a little matchbox to house the gift. I used Certainly Celery card stock to create the box and ran the cover through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder to add a little texture. I punched a window in the front of the cover using the Full Heart Punch and attached a piece of window sheet behind it using Mini Glue Dots. I created a little flower using the largest flower on the Boho Blossom Punch, added a small Clear Rhinestone to the centre and attached it to the front of the box using a Mini Glue Dot.
Lastly I made a little carry bag to put the necklace and card into. Selene Kempton shared a tutorial at Stamping 411 and it is just perfect to hold my gift. I used Certainly Celery card stock to construct the box. I punched the length of Certainly Celery card stock using the Lace Ribbon Border to create handles. I used a piece of Regal Rose Designer Paper from the Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack to decorate the front. I punched a strip of Whisper White card stock using the Lace Ribbon Border and cut it in half to add to each long side of the designer paper. I added Whisper White card stock punched using the Round Tab Punch to the front and back of the bag and attached the handles using Large Clear Rhinestone Brads. Lastly I cut Whisper White card stock using the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit. I punched Certainly Celery card stock using the Full Heart punch and placed it in the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit to add the small polka dot pattern and attached it to the Certainly Celery scalloped heart. I added a flower made in the same manner as for the front of the matchbox.
I think the necklace is really cute and will be a fun accessory for her. I love the presentation bag and know that Abi will too. I’d love to hear what you think.
Bye for now, Kris.
Christmas Cards for the Boys
Here are the cards I made for my grandsons. There are many variations on this style of card out there in blog land, so thanks to everyone for the inspiration.
I started with a base care of Whisper White and added a layer of Real Red. (Look no embossing). I punched the long edges of a piece of Whisper White card using the Scallop Trim Border punch and then embossed the centre panel using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder. I added a strip of Basic Black card and then using a piece of Silver Glimmer paper punched a 1″ square. 
I used the 1 1/4″ square and punched around the 1″ square making sure to centre it. I added this piece to the Basic Black strip to make the “buckle”. I kept the inside of this card plain as well but did add “Ho Ho Ho” to the inside. I cut the letters from Real Red cardstock using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet.
These are simple cards but I think my grandsons will love them.
Bye for now, Kris.
A New Page
Some of you may have noticed that I have added new Page to my blog. I have decided to sell some of my tutorials. I am really excited about this and hope that you will be too. My tutorials may not be unique but I have presented the instructions in my own unique way.
My first tutorial is a Gift Card Holder of which I am especially proud. Each of my tutorials will have step by step instructions and photos so that you can easily reproduce the project at home. Especially at this time of year we are all in need of some way of presenting a Gift Card in a special way. Check out the new page and see for yourself.
Bye for now, Kris.
More Punch Art
I shared with you a card I made recently with a punch art Santa which I got from Dawn Olchefske. Well I made three more cards using this same punch art Santa so I have one each for my four granddaughters.
I used three different layouts and I think they all turned out fantastic.
This one starts with a base of Whisper White card stock. I added a layer of Whisper White card stock which has been embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder to Real Red card stock and then to the card front. I added a strip of Whisper White card stock which has been embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder to Real Red card stock which has been punched along one long edge using the Scallop Trim Border punch. I stamped “Merry Christmas” from the Petite Pairs stampset onto Whisper White card stock, punched it out with the Word Window Punch and added it to a Real Red Modern Label. I trimmed one edge straight and attached it to the bottom right hand side of the card front. I embossed Crumb Cake card stock using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder attached it to Real Red card stock. The Stanta is attached to the top and then the whole piece added to the card front using dimensionals.
This one has a Real Red card stock base. I embossed Whisper White card stock using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and attached it to the card front. I embossed another piece of Whisper White card stock using the Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder, attached it to Real Red card stock which has been punched along one edge using the Scallop Trim Border punch and then to the card front. I stamped the greeting onto Whisper White card stock using Real Red ink, punched it out using the Word Window Punch and then attached it to a Real Red Modern Label. The greeting is attached to the card front using dimensionals. The Santa panel is done exactly the same as in the previous card and then attached to the card front using dimensionals.
The last card has a Whisper White card stock base. I embossed Whisper White card stock using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, attached it to Real Red card stock and then to the card front. I embossed Whisper White card stock using the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, attached it to a piece of Real Red card stock with one long edge punched using the Scallop Trim border punch and then to the card front. The greeting is attached using dimensionals as is the Santa panel. I am really happy with the way these cards have turned out. Four cards with the same Santa and not one is exactly the same. I hope my granddaughters love them.
Bye for now, Kris.
A Sunny Challenge Christmas
As Christmas is approaching and life is becoming more hectic, we have decided that the challenge at Sunny Challenges and Creations will run for 2 weeks. The theme is Christmas…. so you can share anything Christmas at all, cards, scrapbooking gifts, 3D, anything that has a Christmas purpose to it.
Sooo… the first thing I am going to share with you for this challenge is an ornament. Lynn Pratt shared a honeycomb ornament she had made following the tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers and I thought it was beautiful. She even shared a free template. Then Lisa Lange shared one she had made using circles and it looked stunning as well, so here is my version of the honeycomb ornament. I used two sheets of Designer Series paper from the Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack. My ornament is made from 18 3-1/2″ circles. Basically I followed the information Lynn shared to create my ornament. 
I used Whisper White 5/8″ Organza Ribbon to hang my ornament but I would probably use narrower ribbon next time and add some beads to the bottom of the ribbon, just to give it some weight. You need to have lots of Mini Glue Dots on hand to make these fantastic ornaments. Lynn also shared a great tutorial to make these using the Ornament Punch. You need a lot less designer series paper but they also look fantastic. I haven’t made any of the smaller ornaments yet but I am going to give it a try.
This next ornament is made following some instructions I found in the Christmas edition of the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. I cut 3 strips of 12 x 12 ” designer paper 60cm wide using Old Olive Designer Paper from the Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack 6cm wide. These strips were scored every 1/2″ and folded concertina fashion and joined end to end and then together to make a ring. I cut 2 strips of 12 x 12″ Chocolate Chip Designer Series Paper from the Neutrals Patterns Designers Series Paper Stack 4cm wide. These strips were scored every 1/4″ and joined end to end and then together to make a ring. 
I made 2 Chocolate Chip medallions. I used Tombow Multi Purpose Glue to join all the strips together. Firstly I squished the Old Olive pieces together to form a ring and added a 1-1/4″ circle of Old Olive card stock to the centre to hold it together. I used Tombow Multi Purpose Glue and put a punch on top to hold it together. I did the same thing with the Chocolate Chip pieces and held them together with a 1 1/4″ circle of Real Red card stock. Once the glue had set I added the Chocolate Chip medallions to both sides of the Old Olive medallion, sandwiching some gold thread to hang it from. I punched Silver Glimmer Paper using the Doily Triple Layer punch using the last setting and added them to the centre of the Real Red circles. These ornaments look the same from the front and the back which makes them ideal for hanging on the tree. I think they turned out really prett, don’t you?
Ok so now go visit Gwen and Vicky and see what they have to show you for inspiration this week. Once you have your creation ready, visit Sunny Challenges and Creations and add it to Mr. Linky. Remember this challenge runs until Christmas Day. I cannot wait to see what fantastic things you have been making this Christmas.
Bye for now, Kris.
Celebration Challenge
This week the challenge at Late Night Stampers is to create a celebration card. I needed to create a card for my granddaughter who turns 7 this month and this prompted me to make it early.
I started with a base card of Whisper White card stock. I embossed another piece of Whisper White card stock using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders, added a mat of Melon Mambo card stock and attached it to the card front. I using my Melon Mambo Stampin’ Write Marker to ink the “cake” on the birthday image from the Pretty Postage stampset (just released in the new Mini catalogue). I punched the image using the new 1″ Square Punch and attached them to Melon Mambo card stock which is punched using the new Postage Stamp Punch. These are attached to the card front using dimensionals. 
I stamped the “on your birthday” from the On Your Birthday stampset onto Whisper White card stock using Melon Mambo ink. I punched the image using the Large Oval punch and added a Melon Mambo Scallop Oval to the back. This is attached to the card front also using dimensionals.
This is pretty clean and simple but “pink” enough for Abi who is such a girly girl. Let me know what you think.
Bye for now, Kris.
New Challenge at Craft Project Central
The sketch at Craft Project Central this month gave me an idea for my grandchildren’s Christmas cards. I started making them individual Christmas cards each year when they were born and now I have to make 6 each Christmas. Anyway this is what I made using the Craft Project Central Making Pretty Cards Challenge 6.
I started with a base card of Whisper White, added a layer of Real Red and then a layer of Whisper White which has been embossed using the Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder. I trimmed a piece of Real Red 5/8″ Satin Ribbon and added it to the card front. I trimmed the end of a piece of Crumb Cake card stock, stamped “merry Christmas” from the Petite Pairs stampset using Real Red ink and added it to the card front as well. I ran a piece of Crumb Cake card stock through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and attached it to Real Red card stock. 
I followed some punch art instructions from Dawn Olchefske to make my Santa and added him to the embossed Crumb Cake card stock. This piece is attached to the card front using dimensionals.
I love participating in the Challenge at Craft Project Central, it lasts a whole month and you have the chance to win a month’s free subscription and guess what!!!!! Last month I won, so I have a free subscription to the month of December. So what are you waiting for. You don’t have to be a subscription holder to enter each month and you might win.
Ok, so now I am off to create another 4 Christmas cards!
Bye for now, Kris.
Petite Pocket Treat Holders
I saw this fantastic idea by the very talented Tanya Bell and knew that it would be perfect for a little chocolate treat for the ladies last weekend.
Tanya has a fantastic video tutorial on you tube which gives fantastic instructions to create this cute little chocolate pocket. The really fantastic thing is that they can be created from 1/2 an A4 sheet of cardstock.
I cut my Petite Pockets from Cherry Cobbler cardstock and embossed them using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. I added a strip of the Cherry Cobbler striped designer paper from the Regals Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack. I stamped the greeting from the Tags Til Christmas stampset onto Very Vanilla cardstock and punched the centre out using the new 1″ Square Punch. I attached the greeting to Scallop Squares punched from Early Expresso Cardstock and then to the front of the pocket to cover the join in the designer paper. I tied Cherry Cobbler 1/2″ Seam Binding through the “handle” to finish them off, but unfortunately forgot to take a photo of a completed one.
Everyone loves to get chocolate for a gift and I think this is such a cute way to present it. So thank you very much Tanya for such a fantastic tutorial.
Bye for now, Kris.
Pillow Box Gift
Here is another gift I made for my Christmas Party last Saturday. I made these for all my Hostesses and Customers.
I cut the Pillow Box Die from Night of Navy cardstock, punched a window in the front of the pillow box using the Large Oval Punch and then embossed them using the Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder. I attached a piece of window sheet behind the punched out area using Mini Glue Dots. To embellish I punched Always Artichoke card stock using the Two Step Bird Punch and I also punched the medium flower on the Boho Blossoms Punch from the gorgeous Silver Glitter Paper.
I tucked a little bag of ribbon and buttons inside to complete the gift.
The Pillow Box is a great die to use to present a small gift, I think the ladies liked them.
Bye for now, Kris.
Stamping with Kris 