Caardvarks Challenge- Christmas Tags

Just Rite is sponsoring an awesome challenge over at the Caardvarks blog and I decided to play along. I haven't made any tags in a while, and Christmas tags are always fun to make. I came up with a set of three, vintage style tags using Cornish Heritage Farms 'Night Before Christmas' stamp set. 

I've always loved the old fashioned illustrations on cards and calendars from days gone by and I tried to replicate the look with these tags. This CHF set makes it easy to do with their nostalgic images. I went with water coloring with Distress Inks, in muted tones with lots of 'aging' around the edges. 

I even added some German glass glitter to the snowy village scene, like crystal snowflakes gently falling down. I think that one is my favorite! The papers are from an older My Mind's Eye Christmas collection.

On the backs of the tags I used a Merry Christmas stamp, along with the 'To: From:' stamp, also from the same stamp set. I colored the holly and berries with red and green Copic Spica pens. 

These took a lot of time, but boy were they fun! I don't think I would give these tags away, they would look awesome just hanging from a tree, or a pine garland over the fireplace. 

Thanks for dropping by, have a great weekend!

Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink: Versafine, Distress

Paper: Manila tags, My Mind's Eye, Stardream, water color paper

Accessories: Martha Stewart doily lace edge punch, striped ribbon, glass glitter, Liquid Glass, sewing machine, circle hand punch, 5/8" circle punch, Tonic corner punch, Copic Spica pens, Nestabilities

Creepy Treats Gift Bag & Card

Another spooky yet elegant Halloween set. And I don't know who makes the DP because I used it all up without looking who makes it! I RARELY ever use up an entire sheet of paper for a project, but this time I did. It is pretty though, isn't it? (If you recognize it, leave me a comment please). I used Heat n Stick powder to apply glitter to the stamped images, it is soooo pretty! Love that stuff! Forget any of the glue pads on the market, I've tried them all. None of them work as well as this powder from SU.
Now to just get more glitter....>;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Cosmo Cricket, Studio G
Ink: Brilliance, Distress, Versamark
Paper: Papertrey Ink, unknown DP, Stardream shimmer paper
Accessories: Nestabilies, Spellbinders Labels, glitter, SU Heat n Stick powder, SU ribbon, rhinestones

Hot Cocoa Gift Box

I know I haven't posted lately, it's been to painful to sit at my craft table! I was cleaning my car, vacuuming the floor when all of a sudden this screaming hot pain shot down the base of my spine. Owwww! I could barely walk up to the house, never mind finish cleaning my car! I don't know what I pulled, but it's not the first time, this happens every once in a while. Takes a while to recuperate, but in the mean time, sitting for long periods of time bent over a table coloring or stamping, is too painful. I can't stay away too long though, it's like going through withdrawl, LOL!

Anyway--I knew when I saw this new Toasty Treats stamp from Impression Obsession exactly what I was going to do with it. I had seen someone on SCS use a clear box that the Papertrey Ink stamp sets come in to package a little hot cocoa packet, marshmallows and peppermint sticks. Of course, I've been saving my PTI boxes for exactly something like this!

So I just made a band to go around the top and bottom of the box, lined it with some coordinating DP, decorated it and filled it with a couple of hot cocoa packets, a little bag of marshmallows, and some old fashioned peppermint sticks. So CUTE! I know lots of people who love hot cocoa, so who wouldn't love this little gift?!

Makes you think about all the things you might have been throwing away, huh?

Hope it inspires!

Stamps: Impression Obsession, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Ancient Page, Distress, Perfect Match

Paper: Graphic 45, Prism, PTI, Bristol vellum, Shimmer paper

Accessories: Nestabiltiies, Labels dies, red grosgrain ribbon, Sizzix snowflakes dies, SU brad, Stickles, Copic Spica pens, Colored Pencils, OMS, Liquid Applique

Fall Treat Bag & Card

I felt like making something 3 dimensional, but nothing too complicated, so I decided to make a little treat bag with a matching card. This is the 2-5-7-10 box template from SCS. Very simple! I love the little pumpkins from Papertrey Ink's new Autumn Tags Set, so I decided to start with that. I inked them up with Adirondack's Ginger, Rust & Pesto ink pads then cut them out for layering.
The background paper was stamped in Vintage Cream ink onto Chocolate cardstock using the First Fruits and Floral Fusion stamp sets, then I aged the edges with some Walnut Distress ink.
I'm thinking a little bag of pumpkin spice coffee, or maple caramels and this is a perfect little gift for someone special.
I can't wait for fall weather to take away this terrible heat and humidity we've been having lately. It's like July weather has come really late to northeast Pennsylvania, it's just been so muggy and sticky. Yuck! Bring on the cool, crisp fall days!

Anyway, hope you like it, and thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Adirondack, Distress, Memento
Paper: PTI
Accessories: Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Simple Scallop punch, PTI ribbon

Tea Bag Card

When I saw this tutorial on SCS, I knew I had to try it. I love tea, and how great would it be to include a couple of tea bags in a card to someone feeling under the weather?! And of course, PTI's Tea for Two set was perfect for the project! So what paper to use with this, well---let's see...How about Green Tea Leaves? LOL!

I think someone over at Papertrey loves tea more than I do! Making this project gave me an idea though. Instead of just a card with two pockets for holding tea bags, what about a book filled with different kind of teas, like 12 pockets for a year of different kinds of tea bags? That would make an awesome gift for a fellow tea lover! I'll post it here if I ever do it.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend!

All supplies from Papertrey Ink, colored with colored pencils and OMS.

Card Samples for Plum Purdy Designs

I was asked by Renee Mullins from Plum Purdy Designs to make some samples for some of her other stamps sets she sells on her web site. Of course I said yes! Who wouldn't want to play with these stamps! I especially love this gingerbread girl stamp set, so CUTE! I made a card as well as a matching gift card holder. It could also hold a couple of Ghirardelli chocolates. (That's actually where I got the template from ;-)

Cosmo Cricket papers work sooooo well with these designs. They have that folk-arty look to them, which I love. Isn't this ghost the sweetest thing you've ever seen??!

I can't remember who makes this striped autumn colored paper, I've had it in my stash for a while.

...And look at this adorable kitty. He looks kind of mischevious, doesn't he! Like maybe he stole those punkins, I think. I actually colored this guy with Prismacolor pencils and blended with Sansodor. I felt like a change after all my watercoloring, LOL.

Anyway, these stamps are so awesome, very deep etched rubber. I love them, and I really hope to see more of her designs very, very soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs, Cornish Heritage Farms, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Palette, Distress, Adirondack

Paper: Hot press w/c paper, Cosmo Cricket, Bazzill, PTI

Accessories: Nestabilities, Grosgrain & plaid ribbon, Waxed linen thread, resin buttons, acrylic paint, Copic Atyou Spica pen, glass glitter, markers, Cuttlebug Houdstooth EF, Prismacolor pencils, Sansodor

Hot Cocoa Holders

Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms, Whipper Snapper, Papertrey Ink
Ink: Palette, Distress
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, PTI, SU, Hot press watercolor paper
Accessories: Nestabilities, PTI twill, Clear bags, markers, Stickles, stapler
I actually made these hot cocoa holders a long time ago, the blue one is Debbie Olson's template the other is one from Sonja's Scene. I love the idea of hot cocoa holders, they are so easy for last minute thoughtful gifts, or a little something extra to go with a card. Everyone loves hot chocolate, right!

Keep scrolling down, I'm going to post the rest of my Christmas projects, it's easier to do a new post for each one, instead of trying to format everything in one. Blogger's not so good with that. Thanks for looking!
Stamps: Plum Purdy, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Palette, Versafine

Paper: Bazzill, Stampin Up DSP, PTI, Hot press watercolor paper

Accessories: Nestabilities, White twill, markers, Stickles

Christmas Projects

I found a template for this awesome milk carton holder on Inking Idaho's blog. I have to say I am not one to pay for templates, I can usually find what I want for free, or make it myself, but this was so perfect! It was exactly what I needed for a last minute gift, and so well done, I had to get it. Definitely a keeper adaptable to every holiday/occasion! It wasn't hard to do, either, just a bit time consuming, but the result is well worth it! I inserted a couple of bags of home made hot chocolate mix (recipe found on the web), some marshmallows, and old fashioned peppermint sitcks I found in a big box store. Most of the supplies are Papertrey Ink.

AND, when I saw this project on Poppy Paperie I fell in love with the sweet chocolate mice! I knew I had to make some! So my daughter and I whipped out the chocolate and made up a batch! They were pretty easy! And they taste good too. These two small boxes are all I have left of the batch, I made three larger boxes of them for family and friends, and they loved them.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

Paper: PTI, Cosmo Cricket, Basic Grey

Ink: Versafine, Distress, Perfect Match

Accessories: McGill Circle punch, Nestabilities, silver ribbon, clear stencil sheets, rhinestones, PTI ribbon

I love this stamp! Magnolia just keeps getting better and better! I wish I could have them all, LOL. This time in my DT pack were a bunch of manila tags, small, medium sized and large ones. My first thought was a small photo album, and Christmas tags. Well, I didn't quite have enough tags for really complete scrapbook, so I decided to make a tag photo card. With the second tag, I simply made a pocket out of DP (love the colors--no idea who makes them) then decorated a medium sized tag to slip into the pocket. I made a simple Nesties mat for a photo, & cut little slits in the corners to slip a pic into. Tied three of the tags together with ribbons and embroidery thread to finish it.
I also made a simple Christmas gift tag. I may have to get more manila tags for myself to make for my Christmas gifts this year. I really like the simplicity of adding some DP, a stamped image, some embellishments, ribbon and you have a really great tag. So easy! How great would they look attached to a really special gift?!
Thanks for stopping by!
Stamps: Magnolia, Verve Visual, Justrite
Ink: Palette, Distress
Paper: Hot press w/c paper, Manila tags, unknown DP, PTI, Bazzill
Accessories: Nestabilities, self-stick rhinestones, brads, paper flowers, assorted ribbon, embroidery thread, mini sewing macine, Twinkling H20's, Tombow markers, Copic Spica pens, buttons, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, glass glitter

Tilda Sitting in a Wreath

Another Magnolia DT project, this time a round papier mache box. I painted the lid with acrylic paint, and covered the rest of the box with DP from Basic Grey. The wreath was stamped with a tiny pine sprig stamp, all the way around a circle from PTI's Borders & Corners. This makes it easy to maintain the circular shape. A couple of berries in red and that's it! Hope you all like it!
Stamps: Magnolia, Papertrey Ink
Ink: Palette, Adirondack, Distress, Perfect Match
Paper: Hot press w/c paper, Basic Grey, PTI
Accessories: Nestabilities, Burgundy stitched ribbon, Copic Spica pens, Tombow/SU markers, Americana acrylic paint

Last Minute Halloween Treat Bags

Happy Halloween everyone! I needed to make up some last minute treat bags, so I did some quick bag toppers. These were sooooo simple. Black cardstock for the base, a DP layer, some die cut circles, a variety of stamped images/sentiments, glue it all together, staple it onto the bag and it's done! Now I have to go to the craft store and figure out how to make cat ears for my DD, I couldn't find any in the two big box stores I went to last night!

Happy trick-or-treating, hope you get tons of candy!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Inkadinkado

Paper: Bazzill, Rusty Pickle

Ink: Versafine, Palette

Accessories: Nestabilities

Mini Pizza Box with Plum Purdy Snowman Set

I don't make too many boxes, bags or other containers usually, but I just might have to change that! I LOVE this little pizza box template from a Splitcoast Stampers Challenge! I put a bunch of Hershey's Kisses in it, what a perfect little last minute gift and card. I love this new Ski Slope DP from Stampin Up, too, I got two packages, but I might need to get more, LOL. I think I'll be going through it fairly quickly.
Anyway, this is another snowman rubber stamp set from Plum Purdy Designs. Sadly, it doesn't look like she has any more of these sets left either. Maybe people weren't buying her stamp sets as much as she would've liked and decided to discontinue them. (Boo hoo..) But I bet that's because no one from SCS knew about them! I would looooove to see Renee Mullins making more rubber stamps using her designs. She is awesomely talented!
Here are some more pictures of the set, click on them to see them larger.

Stamps: Plum Purdy Designs, Justrite, Papertrey Ink

Paper: Hot press w/c paper, PTI kraft, Stampin Up

Ink: Palette, Distress, Perfect Match

Accessories: Nestabilities, Red grosgrain ribbon, Scor Pal, Stickles, Tombow/SU markers

Poinsettia Gift Box

This little gift box was made from the template on Mel Stampz blog here. It was very easy to put together with a Scor Pal. The poinsettia was made by punching out the petal shapes using a leaf shaped punch from a piece of watercolor paper I painted with a combo of Adirondack reinkers, Pearl Ex and a bit of Gum Arabic to bind it all together. The individual petals were then shaped with a plastic paper shaping tool by rubbing firmly on the wrong side of the petal until it curled up. Then I glued all the petals onto a small scalloped circle. Gorgeous, no? There's even a little Swarovski crystal in the center for some added bling. This box is almost a gift in itself, who cares what's inside, right??!! LOL.



Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Versafine, Distress
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, PTI, watercolor paper, Stardream
Accessories: Nestabilities, Adirondack reinkers, Pearl Ex, Gum Arabic, Gold cord, Swarovski crystal, Punches from The Punch Bunch, mini sewing machine

Rustic Branches Mini Card Tote

3 x 3 notecards are addicting! It's so quick to make up a set of them, and with a little more time and effort a matching tote box to hold them in. I haven't used this set from Papertrey Ink much yet, but when making up this set I had tons of ideas for them! I got the template for the tote box from Melstampz blog. She's got tons of cool stuff on there! Everything used was from Papertrey Ink except the tiny little self stick rhinestones. (I think they were by K & Co.) They were originally pink and red nested rhinestone hearts that I cut up to use individually.
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Versafine, Perfect Match, Distress
Paper: PTI
Accessories: Nestabilities, Pink self-stick rhinestones, PTI twill ribbon

JustRite Stampin' Champion Contest

We were asked to make two projects for the Stampin' Champion Contest. One was to be a card, and one should be something other than a card. Well, I had no trouble with the non-card project because I had just made myself this snazzy little purse for my cell phone, and of course, then it needed a matching charm for the phone itself! So, it was fairly simple to put together. I used shrink plastic again to make the monogram charm, then linked it with silver wire and jumprings to a wool bead and a gorgeous Swarovski crystal. The wool purse was a different story! A LOT of work! I had purchased the most gorgeous wool batt from Etsy and knew I had to make something with it! I looked on the web for directions on how to make wool felt, and that's exactly what I did. It's a work out, let me tell you. After I had my felt, I cut out the pattern for the purse, and yes, I used a large Nestabilities scalloped circle to cut the flap! Woo hoo! They're not just for paper you know! I sewed it up, added some beads and buttons, made the handle, and had myself a gorgeous little bag. I love it.
Now, my next project.

I've been a customer over at PcCrafter for a long time. I love their clip art collections! This is a set called Sweater Weather by Shelley Comiskey. I printed it to fit the 1 1/2" silver Memory frame from Ranger. I also attached some tiny flat back Swarovski crystals for the 'snow' for a little added sparkle. I think it makes an adorable ornament! I'm going to make several for my own tree come Christmas!

So that's it! I hope you like them and don't forget to keep checking back at the JustRite blog for all the fun till the winner is chosen!
Cell Phone Charm Supplies:
Stamps: JustRite
Paper: Shrink Plastic

Ink: Palette
Accessories: Nestabilities, Wool, Embroidery thread, silver wire, jump ring, Swarovski crystal
Card Supplies:
Stamps: JustRite
Ink: Adirondack
Paper: Basic Grey, PTI, Bazzill
Accessories: Nestabilities, White ribbon, Ranger Memory Frame, Swarovski flat back crystals

JustRite Projects Not Entered into Contest.

This was a potential entry for the JustRite Stampin' Champion Contest. I made several for the final round, and decided this one wasn't the one for the contest. You'll have to wait till tomorrow to see which one I entered! There are so many beautiful projects, the competition is really fierce! To me it's all about fun, though. I mean sure, it would be great to win, but I've already been pleasantly surprised that a couple of my projects were chosen as 'hopefuls' for the finals! I won quite a few gift certificates, so I am anxiously waiting for JustRite's new releases in a couple of weeks so I can spend it all! I make cards and paper crafts because I love it. If it starts to become a 'job' I'm afraid I won't love it as much any more! KWIM?


Anyway, a little about this gift bag. The ornament/tag attached is actually called a 'penny' made of wool felt. Well, the red and blue layers are anyway. The snowman was stamped onto regular paper, then glued onto the wool. The edges were emroidered using a blanket stitch, which is typical of this type of craft. Usually there are many, many of these stacked 'pennies' made of all types of heavy weight fabric scraps, then sewn together to form decorative placemats, wall hangings, doilies, etc. I love the folk-art look to them.


Then of course, the tissue paper filler just wasn't the right color, so I sprayed it with some Moon Shadow Mists and Adirondack reinkers! Gotta get everything to coordinate!


Stamps: Inky Antics, JustRite
Ink: Palette, Distress
Paper: Watercolor paper, PTI, Cosmo Cricket, Prism
Accessories: Cream Twill tape, PTI twill ribbon, Nestabilities, Kraft Gift Bag, Moon Shadow Mist, Adirondack reinker, Wool Felt, embroidery thread, Sakura Glaze pen, Tombow/SU! markers

Here's a card I also considered entering into the contest, but decided against it in favor for another. I saw someone use Distress inkpads to watercolor with and loved, loved loved the look! It's got a vintage, aged look to it that just suits this image perfectly!

The card background was simply stamped with Versamark, so the flourishes are just a shade darker than the cardstock. Some layered ribbons, a scalloped circle sentiment that reads, 'Take the time to smell the flowers', and that's all there is to it!

Thanks for looking, and don't forget to vote for your favorite on the JustRite blog starting tomorrow!

Stamps: JustRite, Stamp Avie, Inkadinkado

Ink: Versamark, Palette, Distress, Paper Salon

Paper: Watercolor Paper, Papertrey Ink

Accessories: Nestabilities, Dew Drops, Tombow/SU! Markers, Lacy edge ribbon, PTI twill ribbon, Scribbles 3D paint, paper piercing tool

Two Projects that are NOT Cards!

I have two projects to show you today, that are not (gasp!) cards. Occasionally, I start something intending for it to be a card, only to want to adapt it for a framed hanging. That's what happened to the above project. I knew I wanted to use Papertrey Ink's Boards & Beams to make a creepy Halloween house with, but wasn't sure how to go about it until I got Cosmo Cricket's new Haunted paper collection. That inspired me immediately to make this project!
The big Harvest moon behind the house is a piece of watercolor paper cut with Nestabilities circle die, then colored with some Twinkling H2O's (picture does not show the awesome shimmer to the moon) and just a tiny bit of Adirondack reinker to deepen the shading along the bottom. It's super cool IRL. I colored the house with my Tombow and SU! markers, as usual. The frame was one I got at AC Moore, unfinished wood, simple, inexpensive which I painted with a toffee color base coat, applied a crackling medium and waited for it to dry. Then the fun starts watching the cracks appear when I painted the red topcoat.
I felt the trees from PTI's Boards & Beams were not 'creepy' enough for this project, so I used an Inque Boutique stamp instead.
I can't wait to hang this one up for Halloween!
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Inque Boutique
Ink: Palette, Distress, Adirondack
Paper: Fabriano w/c paper, Cosmo Cricket, PTI, scrap chipboard
Accessories: Spellbinders label die, Cream twill tape, black brads, Twinkling H2O's, Tombow/SU! markers, Americana acrylic paint, Folk Art crackle medium

My second project is this cute little treat bag. Again, using Cosmo Cricket's Haunted paper collection. I didn't have any Halloween treats to fill it up with yet, so I just stuffed some raffia in there with this cute little Jack fabric doll I made up earlier today. He was super easy. I've had the little cloth doll forms for a long time, from Skyblue Pink (scroll down to 'Munchkins'), from when I used to sew a lot of my own cloth dolls way back in the day. Well, I decided I needed to make a mini Jack Pumpkin doll, dug out my acrylic paints, some waxed thread and painted him up in about an hour and a half! Isn't he adorable!?

Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Justrite

Ink: Versafine, Distress, Fluid Chalk

Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Bazzill

Accessories: Nestabilities, Munchkin muslin doll, Americana paint, Waxed thread, curved upholstery needle, Fine permanent pen, raffia

I'm going away for the weekend, later tonight. Me, Jimmy and our four kiddos are heading out to Heart Lake for a little bit of fishing and relaxation. I'm going to have to take a break from stamping... :-( So I won't be back till Sunday evening. Until then, everyone enjoy your weekend!

Monogrammed Stationery Box

I got a new laptop!

My sweetheart has been quietly listening to my complaints about my 5 yr. old laptop that my DD monopolizes all the time, and last Friday he sees a great deal for brand spankin' new Garnet red Gateway at Best Buy and offers to get it for me! How awesome is he! Thank you Baby!

Anyway, onto my latest project:

I made this stationery set for my good neighbor and friend. I found the off-white mache box at AC Moore and covered the top/inside cover with DP by Heidi Grace. Inside there are a couple of different things, a mini covered legal pad (blue to match everything!), a portfolio to hold a set of cards, a mini post-it holder keyring, and a matching pen. I think it looks so classy and elegant. The simple monogram along with the coordinating DP makes it perfect for every day notes.

Stamps: Justrite, Studio G

Ink: Palette, Versamagic

Paper: Heidi Grace, PTI white cardstock, SU!, Bazzill, Prism

Accessories: McGill 1 11/16" circle punch, Nestabilities, Coffee grosgrain ribbon, Sky blue grosgrain ribbon, RSVP pen, 1" binder ring, Neo-magnets, Mache box

Verrrrry Early Halloween Tag!

I've been wanting the Spooky Sweets set from PTI for a while, and although I really, really tried to wait till at least the end of the summer, I just couldn't--so I got it last week. I love it! I was just playing around with them and somehow this tag made itself! Now I just have to make sure I don't misplace it before Fall, because it would look perfect hanging from one of my huge pumpkins!
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Perfect Match, Palette
Paper: Manila tag, Papertrey Ink, Bazzill
Accessories: Nestabilities, Brown Stitched ribbon, Olive Grosgrain ribbon, Copper jumpring