Let It Snow

Welcome to my blog and welcome to November. And WOW!!! Christmas is getting so close.  

I'll bet you still have presents to wrap and cards to make and get out. I know I do!!! I have some great ideas for you that will be a great time saver. But first...................

A  new challenge has begun over at the Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog. The challenge runs November 1 thru December 15. Plenty of time for you to make a Christmas project and get it submitted it to the challenge. The Merry Little Christmas Challenge is an all-crafts Christmas challenge blog and welcomes any and all kinds of handmade Christmas creations all year long. 

Here's my time saver:
My project for this challenge is a 2'fer. I made a card and I made a bag topper to match. I love bag toppers and they are easy to make and really dress up a plain white gift bag. 

First I started out with a plain white gift bag (8X10).  I glued strips to the front of the bag. I embossed my strips but you can use left over CS or DP to add some additional beauty to the bag. Next I used an Accu-Cut die cut bag topper. I actually cut 2, one in white and one in blue CS and attached them off center. I embossed the blue CS one using a snowflake folder. I also used punched snowflakes to add additional interest to this topper. I added rhinestones to the center of the snowflakes and some glitter just to give the flakes more omph!!  I know you are saying you don't have one of those large dies to make the bag topper. Well I have a solution for you. Click on this link to check out how to make a topper with no bag topper die at all. It's easy peasy. 

OK lets go on the 2nd part of this project, the card.

The card is 5X7. The card base is white CS and the layered piece is DP. I cut a rectangle out on the left side of the card along with the DP. I embossed  a piece of vellum and put it between the card base and the DP. Next I added a silver frame. Lastly I added some punched snowflakes and put rhinestones in the centers, added some glitter and added the sentiment and that finished the card. 

These two, the card and the decorated bag, make a great duo for any gift.

Products I used:

CS used - White CS, DP, Silver CS, Light Blue CS

Ink used -  Momento - Paris Dusk

Misc used -MS Punch - Snowflakes, glitter

Dies used - Accu-Cut Bag Topper

Stamp used - Old sentiment

I am submitting my project to the following challenges:

• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday M, Wed, E3 - Anything Goes (#4)
• The Crafty Addicts  M, 1st Wed, 3E,#7 - Anything Goes (#8)
• Word Art Wednesdays  (#100)

Hope you enjoyed my creations. I am looking forward to seeing one of your Christmas projects in the challenge submissions.

Thanks it for now. See you soon,

A Fractured Bag Topper

 Hi Everyone

Thought I'd pop in to share my stamping club project. For the September meeting the theme was to use vellum on our project.

Well I used vellum paper to make the flowers and the holly leaves and the holly swirl

And I also decided to make a bag topper and use the "fractured" design. 

Well as I am sitting here writing this I see that I did not take a pic of the bag topper actually on a gift bag. But I did take a pic of the topper itself. 

So here is the topper

This slides down on the bag handle and it will dress up a plain gift bag. 

Since I do not have a pic with this adorning the bag, I went and made another bag topper similar but not identical.

The scalloped oval is a die cut of an oval bag topper. I wanted a rectangle so I used the oval for the height and width. The rectangle is appox. 7.5"X10"

 

Where those 2 small circles are on the white bag topper, I marked those spots on my rectangle. I then folded at that spot. The topper folds all the way across where those small circles are. I cut between the 2 tiny circles which gives this the capability of sliding the piece over the handle and it will hang down the bag front. 

I added DP layers and a square and then used stamped holly swirls and poinsettias (stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations)

I added the 1/4" strips to the square to make the fractured look and then finished with those holly swirls and poinsettias

And you now have a decorated gift bag. Ready for the tissue paper and of course the gift.

(This is kind of like making a card front.) 

Hope you like the project and try making your own bag topper to jazz up those plain gift bags.

Have a great upcoming weekend.

October Stamp Club Challenge Card

Hello crafty people

Last night was the monthly stamp club gathering and we had a great time as always.

Last month we were given a challenge piece that was a real challenge for me. 

(I guess that's why its considered a challenge)

It is a lenticular lens scene - halloween themed. I know you are wondering what is a lenticular lens??? We we've all seen them and held them and looked at them with some awe, or at least I have. A lenticular lens will change if you move it back and forth. Check out the definition here. 

I took a few pics of the piece in hopes you can see the scene changes if I re-positioned my hand.

The ghosts are different and so is the pumpkin

OK anyway, this piece is large, it's a 6"X 6" piece 

and if I trimmed it, some of the scenes would be cut off

 So I decided to make a trick or treat bag 

and this challenge piece would be the focal point

of a bag topper. 

I used a white gift bag and covered the front with an orange print DP piece

Next I made my bag topper

I cut a scalloped rectangle and then layered a purple scalloped rectangle piece over that.

On the purple layer I added the lenticular piece.

Adding some bats and some scull & cross bones die cuts really finished it off.

I slid it onto the bag over one of the handles and WELLA.....
it's a trick ot treat bag

This bag could also be used as a larger spooky dried flower arrangement holder 

or a great gift bag to hold a gift

I love making bag toppers.

They really dress up a plain bag. 

I think it gives the bag its own personality.

SUPPLIES I USED ON MY PROJECT

Paper/Card Stock: Purple CS, Black CS, DP Ink: Distress Ink - Old Paper (used on the skull & bones) Dies Used: Sizzix Tim Holtz Mini Bat & Skull set (Movers & Shapers)  Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangles Accessories: White Gift Bag, Lenticular Lens Halloween scene

I am submitting my project in the following challenges:

• Cardz 4 Guyz - #230 - Spooky or Use Orange (#5)
• A Bit More Time to Craft  #101 - Always Anything Goes (#90)
• A Perfect Time To Craft (M, P1, E3) October - Always Anything Goes (#77)
• Crafts Galore Encore  #68 - Always Anything Goes (#71)
• Die Cut Divas  October - Fall Colours or any holiday in October (#47)
• Dies R Us Challenge #130 - Anything Goes (#39)
• Fabrika Fantasy  #35 - Halloween (#22)
• The Crafting Challenge  - October - Autumn and/or Halloween (#12)

Stop back Friday to see the themed card I made for the October meeting

Hope you got some inspiration from this project.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope to see you again on Friday.

Patchwork Blooms

Hello Everyone

Today I am back with a great adornment for the plain ol' gift bag we all use from time to time.  

We all get busy and when it's gift giving time, 

sometimes we just add the gift to a bag, add a little tissue for that fru fru look and we give it. 

Well I like to make bag toppers. 

They dress up the bag and add some personality to that plain bag. 

I sell a lot of my cards and other paper craft items at a local shop, 

L&M Busy Hands Craft & Gift Shop in Ft Mitchell, 

and this bag topper will be down there Friday. 

I will be bringing 2 others as well. 

Similar, but the pocket color will be either orange, pink, or blue.

I thought this topper would look great on a kraft colored gift bag,

 what do you think.

Here is a closer view of the pocket image on the bag topper.

My bag topper itself is scalloped and is a die that I have had for eons. 

It is from Accucut but unfortunately is no longer available.

I have gotten a lot of use out of that die, 

and will continue to use it to make unique bag toppers

I just love my bag toppers.

The flowers and the pocket on the bag topper are from 

the Patchwork Daisy papers and stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations. 

SUPPLIES I USED ON MY PROJECT

Stamps:  Heartfelt Creations - Patchwork Pocket & Patterns, Buttons & Blooms, Patchwork Daisy Border Paper/Card Stock: White CS, Heartfelt Creations Patchwork Daisy Collection DP  Ink: Memento Dies Used: Heartfelt Creations - Patchwork Pocket & Patterns, Buttons & Blooms, Patchwork Daisy Border, Accu-cut  Bag Topper Accessories: dimensional foam

I am submitting my creation in the following challenges:

• Crafty Gals Corner  #191 - May Flowers (#7)
• Creative Moments  #168 - Anything Goes  (#16)
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday- Feminine or add Sentiment (#33)
• Fab 'n' Funky, #439 - Anything Goes (#10)
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers  (#6)
• The Crafty Addicts   #60 - Anything Goes (#71)
• Lemon Shortbread  #93 - Always Anything Goes  (#21)
• Shopping Our Stash  #395 - May Flowers  (#11)
• Addicted to Stamps   #174 Flowers   (#37)
• Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - (May) Flowers (#13)
• Dragonfly Dreams - (May) Anything Goes (#48)
• World Wide Open Design Team Challenge  #04 Always Anything Goes (#102)

Hope you enjoyed my latest creation

I will be back soon.

Tickling Snowman

Hello everyone!!!
Are you believing it. It's November and pretty soon we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and then Christmas will be following!! Time is going by way too quick.

I have been working on making cards, keepsake boxes, pop & twist cards, ornaments and bag toppers for a show that takes place in downtown Cincinnati this weekend at the Duke Energy Center. I have a spot in the L&M Busy Hands booth. Myself,  and about 17 other crafters, will be having our handcrafted items for sale. If you are in the greater Cincinnati area, I hope you can stop by and check out all the vendors and stop by at the L&M Busy Hands booth and say "Hi". We'd all love to see ya.

Since I worked on bag toppers for the show,  I decided to use a bag topper as my inspiration piece for the November Craft-Dee BowZ Challenge. I love bag toppers. They really dress up a plain gift bag.Bag Toppers show off your creative side and really make that gift extra special.

I used the cutest snowman image from Kinda Cute by Patricia, this months sponsor at Craft-Dee BowZ. Let me show you how this project turned out.

Here are some closer views of this project

The digital image from Kinda Cute by Patricia is

Tickling Snowman and can be found here

My bow

I added some snowflake ribbon in keeping with that snowman image.

Of course, I used my Craft-Dee BowZ bow making tool to make my bow.

I also used Hug Snug seam binding for my ribbon. 

You can order your very own tool over on the Craft-Dee BowZ site.

Well, I have to get back to the booth to add the finishing touches to my fixture and to assist where needed with the other crafters in the booth.

Hope you enjoyed my project and I will be back real soon with more fun projects.

Have a great week.