Ready, Set, Wrap....

Are your chestnuts roasting yet?   Are your sleigh bells ringing? Is Jack Frost nipping at your nose? If so, then it's the tale tale signs of Christmas and we need to make sure we have our checklists completed.
 Decorations - check, Tree - check, menu planned - check, presents under the tree - ? 

 I said, "Presents under the tree???" 

Oh wait...you need this cut file from The Cutting Cafe and you can finally check that last box off the list.  Here is Regina's fabulous design, Gift Bow Template.

The file comes with two widths for bow sizes and simply by sizing the file down, I made a range of different width bows, all in music sheets.

Here are the other five that I made and instead of the looped center that comes with the file, I've added a rose center.  

These bows are so wonderfully versatile.  Simply change the paper style and you're ready for any and EVERY holiday or celebration.

Thank you so much for your visit and big hugs to you,

Lisa x

12 Tags of Christmas Ornament 12

Mason Jar Lid 12

I've reached the finish line and it's here on The 12 Tags of Christmas, tag 12. Hosted by the fabulous Linda Coughlin at The Funkie Junkie and sponsored by her store The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Linda's work inspires me to recreate her tags in a close resemblance to colors and textures and then adding a personal touch of my own. What I loved about her tag was the wood texture, the window, the foliage and the red pops of color.

I embossed foil tape and applied to the rim of the mason jar and coated with Gesso and then DI paints.

Elements were cut on my Silhouette Cameo and then later decided what I could make work on the given space.

A closeup of the scene I've created in the window.

Thank you so much for your visit.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Lisa x

12 Tags of Christmas Ornament 11

Mason Jar 11

Linda's 11th tag is phenomenal and had me completely stumped. As she used faux metal for her facade as my mason lid already was silvery metal, I decided deconstruct the tag and highlight the elements within the shimmery base.  This gave me my inspiration; garland wreath, bow, and snowflakes.

The wreath was cut from scrap DP and painted with silver metallic acrylic paint. The bow was also scrap DP and painted with Peacock Feathers Distress paint and Stickles of Lagoon color.

The inside of the mason jar was filled with glue and then topped with handmade 'snow' from shredded white Styrofoam.  A dental floss string of snowflakes attached to the bottom of the lid was the last step..or so I thought. That left a huge void in the center of the lid so I decided to make a button tree with turquoise baubles, made from the tops of brads, and then a tiny silver star glued to the top and then finally this ornament was completed.

There's only one ornament left to make and then the 12 Tags of Christmas, hosted by Linda Coughlin and sponsored by her store The Funkie Junkie Boutique, will be all over until next year (I hope, I hope!).  

I'm off to give a party for my in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary.  

See you in a few days!!

Until then, Hugs and Happy Crafting to you,

Lisa x

"Don't Forget Your Mittens...."

Do remember hearing those words growing up? Or maybe, "Those aren't decorations. Button that coat up!" or even, "Did you forget pants again?"  No?? You never heard that one? Maybe I was just the only forgetful child.  Anyway, now that I'm older and wiser, I've remembered my mittens!

A set of six mitten shaped cards all hosting the most precious retro images from Nicecrane Designs. 

Vintage Funny Christmas Pack

This set comes with 3 sheets of fabulous retro images and ALL for a super great price!!

I'll let you go now and check out his wonderful store.

 Besides, I just realized I forgot pants. Dangit!

Hugs n' Happy Crafting,

Lisa x

Shaker Cards @ The Cutting Cafe...

Need a tag that's a card that's an ornament? What's that you say?? ' YES? '  Well, look no further, I have JUST the thing for you!  Regina is blowing my mind with her Christmas Shape Shaker Cards and you'll love them too. These are just three of the eight...that's right, 8, of the designs from The Cutting Cafe. Attach them to a gift as a tag and let it be your card and then the recipient uses it as an ornament. Seriously COOL idea for the holidays!

The sentiments come from Christmas Word Shakers file.

 Bookmark this website and see all the DT designs on the 7th of December.

Leave a comment and be in the drawing for three free cut files of your choice.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Lisa x

Visions of Sugarplums Giveaway Day 5

Welcome back! It's the final day of the incredible Visions of Sugarplums so let's get right down to the fun!

Here are today's links you get to visit and at the end of this post I'll announce the winners of my giveaways.

Step 1

*** Leave a comment FOR Lori (our fabulous host!) ON her blog letting her know you'd like to be entered to WIN in the store giveaways AND her store, Choux Choux Paper Art giveaways***

Host of Visions of Sugarplums:

Lori  @ Choux Choux Paper Art

Store Giveaways:

Iralamija Shop

Moonlighting by Mary

Studio Shine

Kitty Bee Designs

 Step 2

*** Visit these participating blogs for additional holiday inspiration and leave a comment.   Lori will count each of these comments as an ADDITIONAL entry into the above giveaways. You never know, these blogs might have their own giveaways too! ***

Participating Blogs:

Char

Lisa (you are here)

Ira

Sandy

Bety

I have had SUCH a marvelous time seeing all this talent and creativity and I certainly hope you have too! I can't tell you how much I have loved all your visits and very sweet comments and that's why I'm so excited to tell you the winners. Here we go...

S'more Ornament

Pia

Crocheted Elf Hat

Misteejay

Domino Ornaments

Carol from La Crosse

Congratulations winners!!!

Please contact me @ minkimpressions@gmail.com so I can get your goodies in the mail.

Winners have until the 13th of December to claim prize or there will be a re-draw.

Biggest of hugs to you all!

Lisa x

Visions of Sugarplums Giveaways Day 4

Ho! Ho! Ho! and welcome back to the 4th day of fun as we continue to celebrate festive traditions, crafts, recipes and giveaways at Visions of Sugarplums!

Guess what? I have another giveaway for one lucky winner and this time I am offering up domino ornaments.  Here's how they were made.

Took some wire and wrapped the domino then covered it with Mod Podge and wrapped in music sheets and aged with DI's.

Printed out all the elements that I wanted for each ornament.  These are a set of Mr. and Mrs. Claus that you get to pick out the outfit and dress them. They are each accompanied by a vintage deer, tree, bag of goodies and a free printable of naughty or nice tags. 

Here's a few closeups. One with Santa all dressed up and one with Santa in his thermals.

Here they all are together, ready for a new home!

Just follow these 3 steps and you're on your way...

Step 1

*** Leave a comment FOR Lori (our fabulous host!) ON her blog letting her know you'd like to be entered to WIN in the store giveaways AND her store, Choux Choux Paper Art giveaways***

Host of Visions of Sugarplums:

Lori  @ Choux Choux Paper Art

Store Giveaways:

Moonlighting by Mary

Studio Shine

Kitty Bee Designs

 Step 2

*** Visit these participating blogs for additional holiday inspiration and leave a comment.   Lori will count each of these comments as an ADDITIONAL entry into the above giveaways. You never know, these blogs might have their own giveaways too! ***

Participating Blogs:

Char
Regina
Mitra
Lisa (you are here)
May

Step 3

***Leave me a comment here and state that YOU would LIKE to be ENTERED to win in my Domino Ornaments giveaway***

Winners of my giveaways will be announced HERE on Friday, December 5th.

Hugs and Best of luck!

Lisa xx

12 Tags of Christmas Ornament 10

If you missed my latest Visions of Sugarplums giveaway post, please click here.

Mason Jar Lid 10

I can feel the start of a tear drop building up inside because I know we're so close to finishing up this challenge and that makes me feel like Grumpy cat.  Until then, however, I am having such fun creating my renditions of Linda's tags.  Below are the supplies that I used and how I start the base of every lid before I color it.

Linda's tenth tag...let me just say, "WOWEE!"  What is not to love with that glorious patina and then the vibrant reds and that luscious golden lattice with holly leaves. I took it all in and had some fun!

That background color pretty much screamed at me, demanding that I include it in my ornament. So, of course, when something is yelling at you, you comply!  Or throat punch it, but that didn't really apply here.  So I made the patina holly.

                                                  They began as white cardstock that was later glazed with clear crackle glaze and then inked with various greens shown above.   Berries of Stickles then finished up.  Couldn't for the life of me keep my thumbs out of it either.... ergo random red shimmers.                                                                                                    

                                                                      The vibrant red mason jar is reflective of the reds on Linda's tag.  I did however have to try this technique I saw recently and it's on making DIY ornaments by Stamptramp.  It makes things look so wonderfully vintage!  She also uses clear plastic in her ornament and I decided to use packaging plastic as well.  It gave me a clear background AND cut the circle while salvaging the opening for hanging, as seen here.

Worse thing under the tree is a package of tighty whities.

Don't forget that!!

So let's all keep our inner child happy and remember back when..

Now you can see why I like the packaging plastic. When it hangs on the tree in front of the light it looks like they are sneaking downstairs by the light of their tree to look at all the presents Santa brought them!

Only 2 left to go (sniff, sniff, snort), but there's still time to play along. Thank you so much to Linda for the fabulous 12 Tags of Christmas challenge and to her incredible store, The Funkie Junkie Boutique, for sponsoring the grooviest prizes. 

 I'd also love to play along at Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge blog for their Celebrate the Season Challenge.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Lisa xx