What a busy weekend this has been.  I’m sorry I didn’t get in here to update yesterday.  We sent the boys to my parent’s house so that we could go out with some friends.  We drove into Indiana and went to a great Indian resturant and enjoyed walking through Costco in relative silence.  This morning we rushed out of the door to pick the boys back up and were racing the snow storm back home.  We got stuck 3 times last year in white out conditions on the interstate and don’t hope to repeat that trend this year.

Colin, Evan and I have been hard at work with the help of my Big Shot and the 3D Circle Ornament die. We have been using up retired designer series paper to make our Christmas ornaments for the tree.  Here are two of them that are made with retired Dashing designer series paper.  Even though they are made with the exact same paper no two ornaments look the same.  We have been gluing them with Tombow Adhesive and it holds well.  I think we have about 25 made and are ready to move onto some new styles of ornaments. 

I also want to point out that I am changing some of the wording in my Copyright notice.  It will be changed to say that under no circumstances should any of my artwork be taken and posted to another website.  This past week I came across a photo of mine with my watermark intact posted on someone else’s website without permisson or credit given to me.  To avoid this in the future I decided to update this part of my notice.  I hope you all understand. 

Stay warm and safe!

Jenn

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased on my website at http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

Big Shot, 3D Circle Ornament, designer series paper, Tombow Adhesive, ribbon

I know, it’s about time right?  I only passed 200,000 about a week or so ago.  I just had no idea what I was going to offer as blog candy.  Well I figured it out as soon as I saw the Holiday Extravaganza bundles.  You have a chance to win a brand new Santa’s Stocking Stuffer Bundle!  I have it ordered and it should be on it’s way to me next week.  What will you get?  You will get 1 package each of Square Ice Rhinestone brads, metallic eyelets and Fresh Favorites II colored buttons.  All you need to do is leave a comment here.  On December 1st I will pick one lucky winner and as soon as the bundle arrives I will mail it out to you. 

Jenn

It seems like we were stuck in a deep freeze for a while and then suddenly it warmed up for the Thanksgiving weekend.  By warmed up I mean high 30’s.  It’s just warm enough to be comfortable outside with a winter coat on.  Yesterday before we headed out for our Thanksgiving dinner I got the Christmas lights up on the house.  I also got a tree up on the front porch, so today we hope to decorate it.  Now we just need to wish for a similar day sometime after Christmas to take everything back down. 

I haven’t had much of a chance to stamp in the last few days, but I did make this card for the color challenge on SCS.  The color combo was Going Gray, Really Rust and Very Vanilla.  It’s not something I would normally chose, but it came together well.  I started with a Going Gray base and then layered it with Autumn Vine dsp and a strip of Very Vanilla that was scalloped on each edge.  I tied on a Basic Gray ribbon and adhered this to the card before stamping my Warm Wishes sentiment from Hugs and Wishes.  The main image panel uses pumpkins and leaves from Autumn Harvest.  I just love watercoloring so I pulled out my classic re-inkers and an AquaPainter.  I masked the pumpkins to set a scene and then added a few more cut out leaves up on dimensionals. 

I hope you are having a fantastic day!  We are staying in.  I do not like waking up early and I like even less shopping in crowded stores.  So no Black Friday sales for us.  I may go to the local hardware store to look for a few things but that is about it. 

Remember that there are just a few days left in the Holiday Extravaganza sale!  You can order right online from my website.  The directions are on the home page on how to find the sales. 

Jenn

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased via my website at http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

I know not all of you celebrate this holiday, and some of you celebrated a month ago, but we can all take a moment to focus on what we are thankful for in our lives.  Part of the sketch this week at 2 Sketches 4 You was to list 5 things  that you are thankful for in your life.  Since I am again using the sketch from this week, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving here is my list.

5 Things I am Thankful for -

1.  My Family.  Colin and Evan bring joy to each day.  You never know what they are going to do or say, but I can guarantee that they will make me laugh out loud at some point during a 24 hour period. 

2. Our health.  Sometimes Evan likes to lead us on a rocky path, but I am glad that each year his immune system seems to improve. 

3. Friends.  I am thankful for friends in my life, both people I know in person and those of you I have met through the Internet.  Whether it was kids or paper crafting that brought us together I am thankful for everyone I have met through the years.

4. Home. I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads, food in the fridge and that we don’t struggle on a daily basis just to have our needs me.

5. Teachers.  I am thankful for the adults who welcome my children into their lives and nurture them.  Every morning Colin is so eager to go to school and learn.  I am so happy that he has such a great start in his long journey of learning.

Now onto the card.  This is a Pop up gift card holder and it was the Technique Challenge on Monday on SCS.  The thread can be found here.  There are directions, a link to a video tutorial and everything you need to know to make one of these for yourself.   As I mentioned I once again used the sketch from 2 Sketches for You.  I paired it up with the technique and chose the color scheme from the Frosty Days designer series paper.  I again used the Country Living Holiday collection stamp set. 

You may be wondering how this can be used as a gift tag.  All you need to do is punch a hole in the corner and add a ribbon like I did on my 3 X 3 gift card I made on Monday.  I had forgotten to do that before I took my photograph, but if you look at this post, you will know what I mean. 

Again, have a wonderful Thanksgiving, or just enjoy a day with someone you are thankful for or doing something you love to do. 

Jenn

Starting today, November 26th through December 1st you can save up to 50% off of select Stampin’ Up! products!  You can view the products by going to my Stampin’ Up! website by clicking HERE.  Simply click on Shop Now in the upper right hand corner.  Then click on Specials on the left side of the page.

Here are all of the Bundles for your convenience.  Simply click on the flier to download the specials.  If you’d like photos of the products in each bundle then follow the directions to my website as listed above. 

You can place orders directly online through my website.  You can also call or e-mail me as well. 

Don’t miss out as supplies are limited!

Jenn

I don’t know where the original idea for these ornament gift card holders comes from.  There was a version in the last issue of Paper Crafts magazine and I’ve seen them floating around the paper crafting sites.  These are so easy to make and you can easily crank them out for holding gift cards for friends, family and anyone you plan to give a gift card to. 

I started with a piece of Kiwi Kiss cardstock and used my coluzzle with the largest circle.  I then cut the same size circle out of Frosty Days designer series paper and then another one size smaller for the back. 

The designer series paper circle on the front was cut off at the top, slightly higher than half way so that a gift card can be tucked in and not fall out.  Before I adhered this to my Kiwi Kiss circle I added a scallop strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock and then only added adhesive to the edges, skipping the scallop edge.  This is where your gift card will slide in.  If you wanted to make this a gift tag you can slip a little note into the pocket or simply leave the back blank to write the name of your recipient on. 

The top of the ornament is a Tangerine Tango round tab punch.  If you see I added brads, but I didn’t want them to show on the back of the ornament so I didn’t fold it down until my brads were placed.  I then added a 1/8″ hole punch and threaded Silver cording through it. 

To dress up my ornament I added a stamped banner with the sentiment from the Country Living Holiday Collection stamp set.  I stamped it in Versamark on Old olive cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I then gave it a slight wave and attached it with dimensionals.  I also added a Felt Flurry snowflake with a build-a-brad in the center and also used a dimensional to attach it to my project. 

Tomorrow I am going to wrap up my Fan-Tag-stick week and I’m going to move onto showing you some cute ornaments you can use to decorate your tree, so make sure to come back for that.  I will have cards mixed in as well. 

Jenn

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be ordered anytime through my website: http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

Here is an adorable Gift Tag that can easily be attached to any present you plan to give this holiday season.  I used the sketch from 2Sketches4You in miniature.  To do that I knew I wanted a 3 X 3 gift tag, so I cut my Kraft cardstock to 3 X 6 and folded it in half.  The Real Red layer is 2 3/4″ square followed by a 2 5/8″ square of Ski Slope designer series paper.  I layered that with a Curly Label punch from Baja Breeze that was stamped with the snowflake in Season of Joy and the sentiment stamp from the Country Living Holiday collection stamp set.  I added faux stitching with a white gel pen and then adhered it to the designer series paper layer.  Over that is a scalloped strip of Old Olive highlighted again with White gel pen.  If you see the sketch you know there are 2 swirls on each side of the popped up image.  I tried to stamp my image in versamark and then add dazzing diamonds glitter with Heat and Stick powder.  It didn’t show up enough for my liking so I made holly and berries with the 3 For You punch and the double hole punch.  This is small tedious work, so you can omit this for the purpose of mass producing tags.  Lastly I added a flower from Season of Joy that is popped up on a dimensional. 

To turn this from a 3 X 3 card into a gift tag I used my crop-a-dile to punch through all of the layers and then tied a Real Red 5/8″ grosgrain ribbon with silver elastic cording. 

I hope you are enjoying the Fan-Tag-stick week.   It has been fun sticking to a theme and providing a new sample everyday.

Jenn

If you are on my mailing list you have already received this e-card from me.  If you haven’t heard the Holiday Extravaganza Sale starts soon!  From November 26 – December 1, you can get bundled Stampin’ Up! products at a fraction of the retail price.  Be sure to visit my Online Store on November 26th to take advantage of these major savings – quantities are limited!

If you are not on my mailing list and would like to be sign up right on my website by clicking Request my Newsletter!

See I promised you a smaller gift tag and I kept that promise.  The largest Whisper White layer on this tag is 3 3/4″ X 2 1/2″.  You could even make it smaller by eliminating Santa’s body.  The head is based off of Mercedes Weber’s class on the Stampin’ Up! demonstrator website but the body is added by me. 

To make this Santa you will need:

10 Whisper White 3 for You flower punches, 1 Whisper White Word Window punch, 1 – 1 3/8″ Blush Blossom circle punch, 1 – 1/2″ Blush blossom circle, 2 Basic Black double hole punches, 1 Riding Hood Red square punch, 1 Whisper White scallop circle punch, 1 Riding Hood Red Large Tag punch, Scrap strip of Whisper White for Front of jacket, 1 scrap strip of Basic Black for belt and Going Gray for the buckle. 

To make the buckle I took a scrap of Going Gray cardstock and punched it twice with the horizontal slot punch,  I then punched it out with the 3/4″ square punch and trimmed each side down.  I threaded a strip of Basic Black cardstock through. 

The side of the tag is stamped with the large snowflake from the Country Living Holiday collection stamp set.  The To, From stamp is also from that set. 

I made a promise to show a smaller tag today and I promise that all of my tags will not involve punch art.  Tomorrow I will have a tag using Stamps – and maybe just a few punches. 

Jenn

All Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be ordered anytime via my website – http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

Isn’t he cute?  This Rudolf gift tag is nice and hefty in size allowing it to double as a money holder!  The base is Basful Blue and it measures 6 1/2 X 3 1/2.  I used the Scallop border punch along the right hand side.  On the left, about 1/2″ in from the edge I took my slit punch and punched 2 slits, one near the top and one near the bottom.  This will allow you to slide money into the tag and it will be held securely in place.  I then took a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock 3″ X 6 1/4″ and stamped it with the snowflake from the Country Living Holiday Collection.  It is stamped in Bashful Blue ink and was stamped off once.  I then scored this on the left at 1/4″ running the length of the cardstock.  Take a 3/4″ X 6 1/4″ of Frosty Day designer series paper and adhere it to the left.  I then adhered the 1/4″ scored section to the base.  Punch 2 holes with the Crop-a-Dile and thread through 1/4″ Old Olive Grograin ribbon and tie into a bow. 

The reindeer was inspired by both Mercedes Weber and Heather Summers.  To make the Antlers I took Chocolate Chip cardstock and punched out two small ovals.  This is a scrap and can be put to the side.  I then punched a large oval around my punched piece giving me a large oval with a hole in the center.  Cut out a section so it resembles a “c”.  I used 3 for this reindeer.  A full one for each antler and then one cut into segments for the center.  The base is a horizontal slot punch.  Attach these to the head which is made out of a Close to Cocoa wide oval punch.  The ears are horizontal slot punches.  To make the whites of the eye I punched a Word Window punch out of Whisper White, inserted it back into the punch and punched again so my ends would be uniformly rounded.  The pupil is Chocolate Chip 1/4″ circle punces.  The nose is a 1/2″ Real Red circle. 

To make the body I used my Coluzzle on the 3rd circle out from the center and added a 1 1/4″ belly made out of Whisper White cardstock.  The legs are a Close to Cocoa word window punch cut in half and the hooves are Choclate Chip.  Punch a word window punch and cut off the end. 

Tomorrow I promise to have a smaller tag than the last two.  I hope you come back to see what I have up my sleeve!  Today our plans changed to going to a Greek resturant instead.  My brother was concerned that Colin and Evan wouldn’t enjoy the Ethiopian place because of the spicy nature of the food.  We decided that we will go there on a day that we have a babysitter.  The boys just love Greek food so Greek Isle’s here we come.  The suburban location is also a much closer car ride.

Have a great Sunday!

Jenn

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased via my website at http://igotstamps.stampinup.net