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.
Butterfly Bookmarks
I have been admiring the gorgeous projects that Monica Weaver makes using the Metal Sheet, and when I saw this tutorial I knew I had to make these adorable Butterfly Bookmarks for my downline, following the free tutorial Monica has on her blog.
I love how these Butterfly Blookmarks turned out. The tutorial includes the dimensions for the bottom of the box but Monica uses a pre-purchased cover, so I made a cover from Window Sheet. I did use some of the pearls from the retired Pretties Kit and of course the metal sheet but otherwise all Stampin’ Up!.
The butterflies themselves are cut from the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die. You cut the butterflies from cardstock, metal sheet and Sticky Sheet. There are 3 of the larger butterflies – one each side of the Jumbo Paperclip and one attached to the top with Sticky Strip in the centre only and then the small butterfly on top, again attached with Sticky Strip in the centre only.
The bookmarks are gorgeous and the presentation box lined with the gorgeous Mocha Morning Specialty Designer paper adds a real touch of luxury. Don’t you think they look beautiful?
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenge Week 19
The sketch this week at Sunny Challenges and Creations is brought to us by Vicky. As well as using the sketch Vicky has decided that no matter what type of card you make, you are not allowed to add a greeting. Seems simple, not exactly.. I had to really think hard to come up with something for this sketch and to be honest, I am not really sure that I like it. So please let me know what you think.
I stamped the En Francaise Background stamp onto Whisper White card using Wisteria Wonder ink and sponged the edges using the same ink. I wrapped the centre of the Whisper White card with Wisteria Wonder 3/8″ Ruffled Ribbon. This piece was then attached to folded and scored Wisteria Wonder card stock. I inked the large image from the Just Believe stampset using Wisteria Wonder and Old Olive Stampin’ Write Markers and stamped onto Whisper White card. 
I stamped the image the same way 3 more times and punched the same section using the Small Oval Punch. I added the stamped Whisper White card stock to Lucky Limeade card and then ran the whole piece through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. This piece was then attached to the card front using dimensionals.
For more inspiration please visit Gwen and Vicky’s blogs to see their beautiful work. Once you have created your card (or scrapbook page or whatever), then pop over to Sunny Challenges and Creations and add it to Mr. Linky. I am really looking forward to seeing all of your gorgeous cards this week.
Bye for now, Kris.
Calendar for the New Year
Today I am hosting a Christmas Party for my downline, Hostesses and very loyal customers. I like to give something to each of those who attend and I got the idea for this calendar from my friend Vicky, who very geneously shared her calendar templete with me. I made each of my downline one of these. I will share the other gifts I made for my Hostesses and customers over the coming week.
I used a piece of the cardboard packaging that comes with the Designer Series paper and cut it to A4 size. I added an A4 piece of Basic Black card stock. I embossed a piece of Whisper White card stock using the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder and then attached it to Real Red card stock. I wrapped the whole piece with Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon and then attached it to the left hand side of the Basic Black card stock. I embossed a piece of Real Red card stock using the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder and attached it to Whisper White card stock. This piece is also wrapped with Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon and then attached to the right hand side of the Basic Black card stock.
I cut the numbers from Real Red cardstock using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlit Dies and attached them to the top left hand side of the Whisper White card stock. I cut Old Olive card using the Little Leaves sizzlit, twice and attached one to the top right hand side of the Whisper White card stock and the other to the bottom right hand side of the Real Red cardstock.
I cut Real Red card stock 3 times using the Floral Fusion Sizzlit and Whisper White card stock 3 times also. I used my bone folder to distress each of the flowers so that they could be separated into two pieces. I scrunched each piece into a small ball and then opened them up and inserted a Gold Brad through the centre of each of the flowers. I attached the Real Red Flowers over the Little Leaves on the top right hand side of the Whisper White card stock and the Whisper White flowers over the Little Leaves on the bottom right hand side of the Real Red card stock.
I made the embossed sections of the Whisper White and Real Red card stock large enough to accommodate photos, but, if my downline are like me and never get the photos attached, the embossing ensures that they still look complete.
I didn’t take a photo but I punched two holes in the top of the calendar and threaded Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon to make a hanger for the calendar. My grandchildren loved the calendars and requested one each for their teachers as end of year gifts.
Check back over the next week to see what other gifts I have been making.
Bye for now, Kris.
My Advent Countdown
For the last couple of years I have made little boxes to hang on our Christmas Tree to count down the days till Christmas. My grandchildren love coming and opening the boxes and of course there is chocolate inside (and more in the cupboard to cover however many children there may be visiting at the time).
This year I decided that I would make little matchboxes. Since I don’t have a matchbox die for the Big Shot, I had to make these from scratch. I have a tutorial which I found quite some time ago by Kristen Aune and this gives the dimensions to make the matchboxes. You can get 2 from 1 A4 sheet of cardstock. I cut the boxes from various colours – Old Olive, Real Red, Ridinghood Red, Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler. I left the box plain only punching a hold in one end with my Crop-a-Dile to add the ribbon to hang them from the tree. The covers have been rolled using matching ink and the Starburst Jumbo Wheel. I inked the image from the Four Frames stampset using Early Expresso ink, stamped onto Whisper White card and then punched them out using the Decorative Label Punch. The numbers are cut from cardstock using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlit Dies. I will have to change the decoration on the front as the double digits do not work with the image I used for these boxes.
I have actually only made 9 of these, just enough to get them onto the tree when the Grandchildren helped me put it up last week. So I had better stop procrastinating and get the rest done.
Bye for now, Kris.
December Frenzy
From today until the end of the month, Stampin’ Up! is having a huge sale with current product up to 50% off!!! How fantastic. Click on the photo to see which products are discounted so that you don’t miss out.
Bye for now, Kris.
Two more tutorials
from Craft Project Central.
This Tooth Fairy Tin & Wand set is sure to delight any little girl. This gorgeous tutorial was designed by Heidi King. Please visit Heidi’s blog to see more of her fabulous work and don’t forget to let her know how much you love it.
This fabulous Field Flowers Stationery Gift Set is designed by Eileen LeFevre . The beautiful colours and distressing give an truly gorgeous vintage feel. I thoroughly recommend a visit to Eileen’s blog to see more or her amazing work and of course leave her a comment to let her know how much you have enjoyed your visit.
Unfortunately these are the last two projects for November but there is still time for you to visit Craft Project Central and subscribe. At only $10.00 for 10 tutorials why not give yourself and early Christmas present.
Bye for now, Kris
