JULIE'S "FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" PROJECT

It's Julie's turn to share a Freestyle Fridays project and, just in case you have a crazy mind like mine, let me assure you that you're looking at the top of a heart.  Fortunately, Julie's sneak peak photo included a clue by showing the stamped sentiment; otherwise, I would have had to ask her to go back to the stamping room!  ;-)  Of course, to see the entire project, we'll have to visit Julie's blog.  I'm sure she'll a mission posted for me, so be sure to check it out because you might want to challenge yourself to complete it!

EASY ANGEL ORNAMENTS

Late Tuesday night, it occurred to me to make these two angels to take to my parents and grandmother on Wednesday.  I made my first angel a couple of weeks ago and didn't think I wanted to make more, but they really aren't difficult.  I especially enjoyed making the white one since I didn't have to work with the die-cut doily or do the "dot, tap, dot, tap" to glue it to the angel's skirt.  The designer paper that I used for the white angel (retired from Stampin' Up!) was heavy and kind of stiff but, since she didn't have a doily overlay, I decided to emboss her wings for some extra pretty.  My grandmother has angels and snowflakes on her tree, so it was important that I make an all-white angel for her.  The second angel was made for my parents using Stampin' Up!'s "Be of Good Cheer" designer paper and the large Sizzix Doily die.  I know the picture makes it look like she has a lopsided wing, but she doesn't--she's not standing as straight as she should.  ;-)  For both angels, I used Baker's twine for the bows and a Vintage Faceted button for their halos.  I tried other buttons, but these clear faceted buttons were just too perfect and looked the best.  I didn't get good pictures of the boxes, but I used coordinating card stock and designer paper to make gift boxes for both angels.  You know, it feels so good to do something nice for others, and I was so glad that I had made these little angels for three of the angels in my life.

BONUS PROJECT ON CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL

Christmas is just around the corner!  Get the little ones excited with a tree filled with candy and treats!  Watch their excitement as they countdown the 12 Days of Christmas on their way to December 25th!  Why not mix things up and add holiday activities with the treats?  Spending the holidays through the eyes of the kids will bring wonderful memories for everyone to cherish!  Melissa Davies designed and created this awesome project, and her tutorial was posted today at Craft Project Central.

NOVEMBER "STAMPER'S CHOICE" SWAPS

During my monthly Inkerbelles' class, we decide on a swap theme (for the next month's class), and whoever wishes to participate is welcome to do so.  The November theme was "Stamper's Choice", and following are the awesome swaps that were shared:      

We got to sample this cake last month, and it's delicious!

I love the color blocks and texture on this card, and Debbie didn't forget to add bling!

     

Dorri's package of tags is so pretty!

The tags are beautiful!  Designed with MDS2 with plenty of bling (rhinestones, pearls, and glitter) added to them!

Pam's card is striking and so elegant!  The glittery die-cut layer is perfect!

How cute is this set of coasters?!?!  Great gift idea!

  

And this is the "pizza box" that I made for the swap, topped with a 3D "ribbon candy" bow.

TWO NEW PROJECTS POSTED TO CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL

Oops!  I am late posting about two new tutorials that were recently added this month on Craft Project Central.  The first project--"Scentsational Season" Gift Bags--was designed by Carrie Rhoades.  These little gift bags are perfect for those people you want to give a little something to this holiday season. This tutorial is complete with directions on how to make the cute window gift bags as well as directions/recipes for the fun treats to fill these bags. What fun things fill these bags? Each gift was designed to coordinate with the bag it goes in; homemade Hot Cocoa mix, Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies, Black and White Peppermint Bark, and Felt Ornaments. As a bonus, the cut out pieces from the window gift bags are used to make gift tags!  

The second project is this "We Believe" Wall Art, which was designed and created by Tara.  With this wall art and decorations, you’ll be able to spruce up your mantle at Christmas, and let the world know you believe!  Believe in the magic of Christmas, the love and friendship, and the joy and hope!

With your paid subscription to Craft Project Central, you'll be able to create both of these projects and not only add a festive decoration to your home but to your gifts as well.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

"Now bring us some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer"

For today's MISM project, I wanted to try an svg cut file that I recently downloaded.  I just got my Silhouette Cameo about a month ago and haven't found the time to use it as much as I'd like but, as I looked at all of the images available to me, there was one that stood out . . . figgy pudding.  Surprisingly (and thankfully, too), it was so easy to add a duplicate of the darkest shape, which I welded to the top of the existing shape to form the base for this shaped card.  My only other addition to the cut file was the shaped layer for the inside of the card so that a handwritten note would be visible.  In no time, my card layers were perfectly cut and ready for assembly.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Old Olive card stock, "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set, Word Window and Modern Label punches, Cherry Cobbler Baker's twine, and Crystal Effects (on the berries).  This was truly a snappy card to make.  Waiting for the Crystal Effects to dry took the most amount of time.  Now, I have never had figgy pudding and didn't realize that it's more of a cake than a pudding but, if you'd like to try it, a recipe and a little bit of history was found HERE.

HOLIDAY 2012 BLOG BANNER

I know that it's not even December yet and you probably still have some leftover turkey and pumpkin pie in the 'fridge--assuming, of course, that you've made it back over the river and through the woods--but I was ready for a change and decided to go ahead and post my holiday blog banner.  There's a chance that I'll get tired of seeing this one and, if that should happen, I'll just design a new one!  As you may have already guessed, I used Stampin' Up!'s MDS2 software to design the banner and used the following digital content:

Designer Kits:  Home for the Holidays, Trim the Tree, Christmas Jingle, Joyful Times

Embellishments:  Timeless Taffeta Trimmings, Basic Pearls & Rhinestones, Mis-Stitched

Punch:  Lots of Tags

I'd love to know what you think about this new banner!

"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS"

Last week, Julie made a pretty sympathy card for Freestyle Fridays using Stampin' Up!'s Bravo Burgundy and Naturals White card stock, challenging me to create something this week using the same colors.  Well, she is some kind of sneaky because I don't even own Naturals White card stock!  As a matter of fact, I didn't realize that it was still available from Stampin' Up!  So, for my card, I used Bravo Burgundy and Naturals Ivory card stock.  This card was difficult to photograph, and I wasn't able to get the lighting just right so my Naturals Ivory wouldn't look like Crumb Cake.  The other Stampin' Up! products used to complete this card include "Aviary" and "Blessings from Heaven" stamp sets, clear heart-shaped button, linen thread, antique brad, and the Simply Scored scoring tool to create the embossed lines.  This was definitely an interesting mission from Julie and, if you're not too tired from all of the "Black Friday" shopping, you might want to make a card using these colors--or the actual colors according to Julie's mission.  Obviously, I need to add a pack of Naturals White card stock to my next order.  ;-) 

SNOWFLAKE CARDS & BOX

Are you looking for a pretty little set of cards with a coordinating box to put them in? Look no further! This box and cards set makes a great gift for a special person this holiday season.

I think what is most striking about this set is the "quiet" colors with that splash of dazzle from the glittery snowflakes.  Actually, this ensemble reminds me of diamonds and suede.  Years ago, my mother had a suede coat that was very near the color of Soft Suede.   Heidi King did a fabulous job with this project, and her tutorial is posted today at Craft Project Central. 

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

I have been so focused on holiday cards lately, so I decided to make something Fall-ish for MISM.  It doesn't seem to matter how many years of stamping experience I gain, the same cycle repeats itself each year . . . Halloween comes and then BAM! . . . Thanksgiving and Fall get totally lost (erased, really) in my frenzy to work on Christmas projects.  For my card, I used Stampin' Up!'s "French Foliage" and "Moving Forward" stamp sets.  It's ridiculous how long I wanted "French Foliage" but kept bumping it off of my orders.  I {heart} this stamp set!!!!  The other Stampin' Up! products used to complete this card include Perfect Plum taffeta ribbon (gorgeous), Very Vanilla card stock, and Square Lattice embossing folder (this has got to be the most used embossing folder that I own).  I roughed the edges of the stamped layer, and it was adhered to the embossed layer with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Have a wonderful Monday, and a blessed Thanksgiving!