Oh Deer, Winter . . .

~ photo heavy ~

Howdy, and welcome back.  Yeah, some days I craft, and craft some more, and other days, I am busy with life's chores.  Lucky for me, this weekend has been one of those craft, and craft some more days {smile}.  Now, before everyone gets too excited, it's snowing like crazy here, and the wind is blowing harder/faster than a ________.  (I'll let you fill-in-the-blank)  So, I have re-arranged my running schedule: todays run will be run tomorrow, and tomorrows run will be run on Tuesday.  The treadmill work will be done . . . . not sure at this moment, but I need to get some miles done.  So, I am focusing on that.

Ok, now for some crafting!  I am working on a few holiday themed orders, and entering one of them in three (yes, 3!) challenges:  Catch the Bug Challenge, Time Out Challenge and Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  Now, I believe that the last two challenges are 'new-to-me' challenges, so this will be fun!

Let's start with Catch the Bug Challenge.  I see their sketches a lot, and have wanted to play, so I am not one hundred percent that I haven't played with them before.  But, just look at this current challenge sketch!  How beautiful!

The first thing that catches my eye about this sketch is the simplicity: aka easy to work with!  You can do so much with it, or leave it clean and simple.  Me, I'm more on the more is better.  And if you haven't fallen in love with this sketch yet, simply look at what the design team has created, and you will be running to your craft room.  (just like me!) 

Ok, now on to the Time Out Challenge.  Their current challenge is to be inspired by words.  Their words.  Here is their graphics:

I went with: Gift & Open it

Ok, I don't know about you, but this screams gift card holder to me.  Or how about Birthday, or a Thank You gift, or . . .  another endless possibilities challenge.  Oh, and don't forget to see what the design team has created.  Super fun!

And my last stop, is Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  Another fun, and creative group of folks.   This may be a regular challenge for me.  (smile)

I went diagonal: light blue, ribbon, and sequins

and here is what I made:

and another view:

This over-sized card, is actually a 'packaged' gift card holder.  It's for those gift cards that are purchased that have these think wrappers.  So, instead of ripping apart the packaging to get the gift card out, simply slide the whole package into the pocket of this gift card holder!  Ta-Da!

Recipe:  I used Cocoa Bean card stock from Paper Trey Ink.  Love the heavy weight of their card stock, it gives these types of projects stand-up power!  I used Pool Party card stock by Stampin' Up! for the matts.  I just love this shade of pale/light blue.  The pattern papers I used were from the same collection: Oh Deer! by Close To My Heart.  (It was from 2016)  and yes, I hoard saved my scraps.

I did some machine stitching to hold the layers of paper in place, along with some adhesive.  The gold satin ribbon and cream crochet trim are also machine stitched to the cover.  I thought the gold satin ribbon matched the music pattern paper beautifully.

The sentiment rectangle is actually a journalling square that was cut down and matted with a scrap of Cocoa Bean card stock.  I added a retired mini paper clip to the top left corner of it, and a pair of silver sequins to the right corner.  It is adhered to the card front with foam tape to lift it off the card front.  

The paper blossom is actually from the Sweet Peppermint collection by Prima Marketing.  I just love how it adds just the right amount of contrast to the blue, without looking too gold.  

I painted and glittered two silver jingle bells, and tied them with some silver and cream bakers twine.  I then tied a triple-bow with the same bakers twine, and tucked it under the paper blossom.  I added a retired Stampin' Up! snowflake charm to the knot.  I added one lone silver sequin just to the left of the paper blossom to help repeat the silver accents.

The three banner pieces peaking out from under the pinecone pattern paper are simply scraps of this beautiful collection.  I flagged the ends with a pair of scissors.

Since my focal piece is the sentiment, I decided to add some embellishments to the lower right corner, instead of a sentiment.  So, I took two silver foil embossed pinecone die-cuts from the Oh Deer! collection and adhered them.  The top pinecone is adhered with foam tape, so that they wouldn't be smashed on.  I tied some of the same silver and cream bakers twine to a snowflake charm, and hot glued it to the stacked pinecones.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with any/all of these challenges.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Hope to be back soon {fingers crossed}.

Mini Hand Sanitizer Holder

Wow, I didn't realize that it has been almost a whole month since I posted.  I guess time really does fly.  I have been busy crafting.  I'm working on several holiday craft fair items, and trying to make new things, too.  And here is a 'new' item: mini hand sanitizer holder.  My thought process is making the packaging pretty for the little things; to give the gift big impact.  

A popular store, to do some basic holiday shopping is Bath & Body Works.  Let's face it, they have some wonderfully smelling soaps, lotions, candles, and various air fresheners.  They have a scent for just about everyone.  They are even carrying a mens line of products.  I was surprised (but not really) that they started carrying air fresheners for your car.  

An item that my grandchildren and I carry with us, is their mini hand sanitizers.  They even have 'fun' clips to hold these little bottles to your back pack, gym bag, purse, etc.  But, I want to make a 'fun' holiday package for these little bottles, and make gift giving easier and pretty.

front

We all have office/work gifts to get during the holiday season.  But, with everything else we all need to buy, we can't really afford to spend another hundred dollars.  So, we all wrack our brains trying to find something 'good', but not too expensive.  I work at a hospital, so everyone there are germ-a-phobes, and they all love food.  So, usually I make some homebaked goody.  But, this year, I think I'll get them these cute mini hand sanitizers.  They are relatively inexpensive 5 for $6.  An useful gift, without breaking the bank and I won't have to spend an hour in the kitchen {smile}.  Now, I need a way to package them, other than throwing them in a little gift bag. . . and that is how I came upon this idea!

Left-side

Right-side

This is my first one.  So, it isn't perfect.  There is usually a learning curve to making anything out of paper.  I usually keep these for my samples.  I don't give away these first generations, because they usually have a 'mistake' in/on them.
The sentiment rectangle is actually the 'piece' that holds the flap down/the box closed.  Pretty easy to load with the hand sanitizer, just slide the bottle in.  Easy, Peasy, and Pretty!
I used Ocean Tide card stock for the base.  I matted the pattern papers and sentiment rectangle onto Early Espresso card stock.  I added a small strip of foam tape to the bottom of the sentiment rectangle, to lift it off the box.  I used a small snowflake die to cut out the snowflake, using glitter paper.  I added a trio of wood-grain sequins to continue the woods-y feel of the pattern paper.  I used some scraps of this holiday themed pattern paper from 2 years ago.
I am going to try and make a 'bag' holder for these little bottles, too.  I think 'bags' may be a nice option.  {smile}

Vintage Noel in Paris Card

Howdy.  I haven't stopped Christmas crafting yet!  I have just been side railed with a few other obligations.  I was baking individual size Lemon Cream Coffee Cakes, 3-inch Traditional French Apple Tarts, and a few dozen Boston Cream Cupcakes.  And  yeah, I had to make pretty gift cards to go with them {smile}.

But, I did find time to make some holiday cards and a few gift bags to match {smile}.

I am playing along with two different paper crafting challenges:  Mix It Up Challenge and Brown Sugar Challenge. 

So, let's start with Mix It Up Challenge.  They have a sketch and an inspirational photo.  You can use either or both.  How sweet is that?  I used the inspirational photo!

I was inspired by the red and green colors of the holiday photo, along with the holiday theme.

The other challenge I am entering is Brown Sugar Challenge.  These talented ladies have an Anything Goes theme.  Always great ideas from the design team.  They use items from the current sponsor and create some of the most beautiful paper crafts!

here is the card that I made:

Recipe:  I used real red card stock from Stampin' Up!  I just llove the heavy weight.  The pattern paper I used is from a few years ago.  I don't remember who made it, but that is all I have left {frown}.  The green gingham pattern is the reverse side of the holy/polka dot pattern.  

I machine stitched a piece of cream cotton trim and red gingham ribbon to the card front.  Tied a double bow with the ribbon.  I tied a larger double bow with kraft twine and tied a silver Tim Holtz pinecone to the twine.  Then layered my trims:  rat twine and red ribbon.  

I added a dark green glittered paper blossom to the top of the bows.

My focal piece is actually a digital download.  I printed the image on white linen card stock by Paper Trey Ink.  I originally purchased the digital image to print on kraft card stock.  I haven't given up on the idea.  {smile}   I thought this image would look better on white.  To help accent the white polka dots (aka snow falling)

Thank you for looking!  I hope your weekend is wonderful! and creative!

More Holiday Gift Card Holders

Howdy! well, I finished a few more of the traditional colored holiday gift card holders.  I am running out the door to head into work, but I wanted to share another photo.  I am still using the new Tidings collection from Authentique for these.  I'm happy with how they turned out.  {smile}

Authentique: Tidings

I used Stampin' Up! card stock as the base.  I just love the heavy weight of this card stock.  And the colors are just gorgeous in real life.  {smile}  I added burlap ribbon, cotton ribbon, crochet trim and gold cord to the covers.  I found a few stag silhouettes in my stash, and added those, too.   I made a few tags, and added them randomly to the finished holders.  

I purposefully made some 'flat' and some bulky.  I made some 'flat' ones if you need to mail one, the postage won't be expensive, and they will slide nicely in a card.  Or if the gift card holder is the 'gift' the bulky ones are perfect for a box.  Think of it as a treasure in a treasure.  {smile}
And here are a few more retro styled gift card holders.  I thought I had posted this photo yesterday.  :/

Simple Stories: Claus & Co.

I'm off to start crafting some gift bags made with the same pattern paper.  I also need to swing by the craft store and purchase more 'green' ribbon.  Thanks for stopping by!  and if you would like a postcard with my arts and craft fair locations, just email me your mailing address.  Remember, all my holiday craft fairs are in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Hope to see you there!