Quick & Easy Christmas Cards

 Need an idea for a quick and easy Christmas card? Here's what I came up with that would be great to create using an assembly line for large quantities. All you'll need is your Holly Leaf embossing folder (or any folder of choice), rhinestones, a bit of ribbon, evergreen colored card stock and patterned papers.

(I used GCD Studios "Artsy Urban" line).

 

 These cards are done in traditional holiday colors with a dash of gingham, velvet and florals for a truly down home Christmas feel.

 

 Here's another super simple idea that can be recreated easily. You start with your patterned paper, large red velvet ribbon band in the center, a die cut card panel that has been embossed and stamped and a few rhinestone berry embellishments.

 

So if you find time running out on your holiday crafting I hope you'll remember these simple, quick and easy cards that I shared here today.

GCD Studios "Artsy Urban" Trinket Boxes

(All Patterned paper, buttons, embellishments from GCD Studios "Artsy Urban")

I love it when the packaging is just as pretty as the present inside. So this holiday season I'm paying extra attention on my gift presentation. And these little nesting trinket boxes are the perfect size for that special little gift that my boys will pick out for their granny and auntie this year!

 

We've gotten several advertisements in the mail and one of them happened to be for jewelry. My oldest son flipped through it and happily picked out several items he'd like for his granny, his auntie and his mommy (me!). He's at the age this year that he is realizing that Christmas isn't just about getting gifts, it's about giving. So his Daddy is taking him out this weekend on a manly Christmas shopping trip! I just hope he hides whatever they buy in the car...I have a horrible habit of peeking!

Season of Blessings

Here's another quickie blog post of some tags I created a couple weeks ago using GCD Studios "Artsy Urban" line and some Unity stamps. I love paper piecing these stamped images! Unity really knows how to cater to that particular crafting obsession of mine with their easy to piece stamp designs. The evergreen card stock was embossed with the Holly Leaf Cuttlebug embossing folder...which is my absolute favorite holiday folder to use. I believe I saw Danni use it on one of her cards last year and that is what sealed the deal on me caving in and getting my first Cuttlebug. So I blame her for my obsession!

Here's a closeup. If you look at the second tag you'll see how the top tag panel swivels aside for you to write a hidden sentiment underneath. The gemstone brads and mini rhinestones (used on the bird's eye) are also from GCD Studios "Artsy Urban" line.

This is it for me today, I have some pretty embellished boxes that I'll share tomorrow. Hope everyone is staying safe, warm and flu free!

I Miss My Craft Table!

 I seriously miss my craft table! I had just gotten a few new Nestabilities to play with the other week, too. Here's a card I made for my father (his birthday was last week) using one of my new favorite Nesties. He and I both LOVE birds so I felt the sparrows were a suitable embellishment for this somewhat masculine card. All the papers are from GCD Studios "Artsy Urban" line, and I also used two exclusive embossing folders from Oh! My Crafts.

 

Right now Cuttlebug Challenges is giving away 15 exclusive folders from Oh! My Crafts, so head on over there for complete details on how to enter.

As far as personal details, I am still on the mend and am extremely grateful for hydrocodone and my generous and supporting family. Especially my husband who is a master with the vacuum cleaner and can cook eggs a hundred different tasty ways! Thanks for stopping by, stay well and warm!

The Little Things....

 "The Little Things Are Usually The Best Things"

Hello, I'm just dropping in for a bit. I've been on bed rest this past week (not flu related) and I'm on some pretty heavy medication, so I'm not able to really do much of anything right now. But I'm on the mend and wanted to share a card I created last week using GCD Studios "Urban Artsy" line.

 

I used a journal card that had this lovely sentiment on it, then I layered some acetate butterflies on top. I love the romantic feeling of this paper collection combined with the wonderful glitter and velvet textures. If you'd like a chance to get your hands on this collection please visit Caardvarks.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kitchen Apron Gift Tote

 

We're wrapping up the Festival of Lights celebration at the Cuttlebug Challenges Blog today. You still have time to complete the Blog Hop for your opportunity at winning some great prizes. For now I have a little project that I want to share using Creative Cuts & More Holiday Treats Apron Recipe Kit.

You might remember I posted the Gingerbread Recipe Gift Basket (shown on left) during the Creative Cuts & More Mega Recipe Blog Hop earlier this month. And today I wanted to share a little something I created using some of the remaining Doodlebug patterned papers and Apron Die Cuts that I had leftover from my kit.

 

Here are all the contents of my Gingerbread Gift Tote: Recipe Cards, Cook's Helpers laminated cooking guides, Crochet Gingerbread Silverware cozy, Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark, Foaming Hand Sanitizer and Kitchen Towels

 

Free Download! Martha Stewart "Cook's Helpers" Printables

 

Free Download! Gingerbread Recipe Cards

 

I decided to create a customized box for this Foaming Hand Sanitizer. Begin with two box lids, cut cardstock to size, score then die cut a window and adhere to inside bottom lid, punch hole in top of lid for nozzle to fit through and then tie with ribbon.

 

To create the tote I assembled the box base, embossed it with the Snowflake embossing folder, then attached two embellished Apron Die Cuts, one on each end of the box and tied together with ribbon at the top to create the handle. All that's left to do is fill it with whatever special treats you desire!

 

Here are the New! Cuttlebug Holiday Embossing Folders that I used on my project. The Tartan and Snowflake folders (second photo) are both 5x7 so they can emboss a larger area than the standard folders.

So this is it for me today. You'll have to excuse me for a while as I'm still recovering from the flu. I seem to have gotten the worst of it in my household and it is seriously kicking my butt! sigh But I will be back on November 25th to help showcase GCD Studios at Caardvarks. I got the opportunity to play with their new line created by Melody Ross called "Urban Artsy". It's full of color, texture and has some amazing embellishments. Anyway, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy! Thanksgiving is just a few days away here in the U.S. and I'm looking forward to spending time with all my family. I'm hoping to be completely recovered by then so I don't miss out. Wish me well! :)

Cuttlebug Challenges Festival of Lights!

The Cuttlebug Challenge Blog is celebrating this holiday season with their first ever Festival of Lights!

From November 18th - 22nd we'll be featuring an array of fabulous projects and tutorials. Today the design team has gotten together to share projects that literally...well, shine!

As you visit the designers blogs today keep in mind that there are two hidden treasures along the way. Two of our designers will randomly choose one commenter from their blog to receive some really fun loot. Be sure to start the hop at Cuttlebug Challenges and read up on all the additional information regarding prizes and our Festival of Lights Schedule.

*You can download the blog hop list HERE and you'll have until Sunday to complete your hopping! So have fun!

My project today is this "Home & Hearth" Luminary Box. It's perfect for Thanksgiving (which is next Thursday here in the U.S.) and the neutral colors will allow it to be displayed all year round.

 

I began my project by embellishing this house shaped box.

 

A Tim Holtz metal label adorns the roof top.

 

Acetate was embossed then filled in with Sakura Glaze pens to create the stained glass windows.

 

The chimney was wrapped in embossed cardstock to give it a realistic brick texture.

 

Once you remove the roof of the house you can fill the inside with battery operated tea lights and sequin balls that will light up the stained glass windows with a cheerful glow.

 

The base of the box has a beautiful pom pom trim, scalloped card stock border, embossing with Stickles and for final effect, black sequin balls were glued to the base to give the box added height and elegance.

 

Once you remove the luminary you'll find the perfect box below to store votive candles and potpourri.

Thanks for visiting with me today! If you'd like to see more brilliant projects incorporating lights please visit Cuttlebug Challenges!

Operation Write Home - Veteran's Day Blog Hop

Operation Write Home
OUR MISSION
To support our nation's armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them.

Operation Write Home Blog
Go here first, this is where the hopping fun begins!

OWH Photobucket Album
Look here for assorted blog badges to help spread the word about Operation Write Home!

Hi and welcome to this special Veteran's Day Blog Hop hosted by Operation Write Home! This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart as an Army wife and former Army brat. I still remember the day that my father joined the Army. I was about three years old and and when he left for basic training that was the day that our lives would never be the same again.

I didn't understand at that time the difficulties that my young mother faced. My father was gone 80% of the time and that left her taking care of the responsibilities of raising three young kids, constant moving, bills and working. All I knew as a child was how terribly I missed him. Most girls my age carried around dolls, not me, I had a photo of my Dad and carried it with me everywhere.

My father is now retired...still working but I see him a lot more these days. I have a new found respect for him and especially my mother. Seeing as I am now raising two sons of my own and am married to a soldier in the Army for the past eleven years. He's been serving for sixteen years. The Army, serving our country, this is our life and it's all I've known since I was three years old.

 

My heart goes out to all the men and women who are serving our country. For the sacrifices they and their families make. Being homesick, facing hardship and taking care of each other while deployed. It's a job like no other.

 

So, if sending out a card can help brighten their day, why not? It's a small gesture that means so much to our servicemen and women. Not to mention how great it feels as a family member to get a card from their soldier letting them know they're alright.

 

I hope you'll look through your card stash and see what you can send out. Any card, any theme (just leave off the glitter and lumpy embellishments). You know you need to clean out your card stash anyway! ;)

 

You can also send out a card to a soldier, just write a special note inside your card. Mail call is something they all look forward to and a little unexpected something is always nice.

 

And, hey, this gives you a great excuse to take some time to create a few cards. So get to your craft table now and have a good time!

 

Right now Operation Write Home is asking for Valentine's Day cards that soldiers can send home to their loved ones. I created a collection that can be used for that special day or any occasion.

 

Thanks so much for letting me share. I hope you've found a little inspiration today! If you've come this far I'm sure you're ready to hop over to Kelly's blog: Sandcastle Stamper