Artful Avocations

Ornament Exchange

I had a luncheon at church a few weeks before Christmas that included an ornament exchange.  The ornaments are wrapped up, so you don't see what you are getting until you open the package.  I came up with this ornament made from things at hand.  I also made a box to fit the ornament and keep it hanging inside the box.

I began by die cutting a tag using a Bigz tag die out of some colored linen textured DCWV chipboard.  I covered some SU! Onboard letters (JOY) with SU! DP and sanded the edges.  I also covered the back of the J and the Y because they extend beyond the edges of the tag and I wanted them to be finished on both sides.  I used the SU! scalloped circle to punch out some Old Olive cs to place behind the O.  I strategically applied some SU! white rub-ons to the tag and the letters and on the back side of the ornament, again to give a finished appearance to the back side.  Lastly, I tied a little bow for the top of the O and made a hanger out of the same ribbon.  I also had some pine branch stems (like chenille stems), so I put some of that on top.

I made the box to match the ornament, using the same SU! DP and white cs for stability on the inside.  I used one of my JustRite stampers for the focal image on the box, stamped in Riding Hood Red and Old Olive and watercolored in the little bells with the same ink.  I threaded the ornament hanging ribbon through a hole in the lid of the box and used the pine stems to keep the ornament in place.  I also used the SU! scalloped circle Bigz die, Old Olive brads, dimensionals, and striped ribbon.
 

 Happy New Year

        to You!

Thanks for stopping by.

Appt. Cancelled = Time to Post!

Well, I got up, showered, dressed...okay, THAT may not seem like it's anything out of the ordinary....but I'm ON VACATION people!!!  I could have stayed in my pajama's ALL day if I wanted to.  But, I had to get ready to go to a doctor's appointment that I purposely scheduled while I was on vacation and had the time, only to have them call me this morning (after I was ready) to say the appointment had to be rescheduled because the doctor was ill.  Okay, no problemo,  I was able to reschedule it for Wednesday.  I hope the doc is feeling better by then.  And I'm really not upset at all that it was rescheduled because it was one of THOSE appointments.  Now I have the opportunity to post a few of the things I made to give for Christmas that share a few very simple techniques for wrapping up all the homemade goodies we like to make around the holidays.  :D  I must confess that I really wasn't planning on photography any of these things, but then my friend Aaron stopped by and he insisted that I take pictures of everything I had left.  I know I should have thought about doing that, but you probably know how it is...we just DO these things and don't think about taking pictures of everything.

First up is this simple box to hold some gingerbread cookies.  I made a ton of these cookies for my class and also just to have for cookie trays (now I wish I would have taken some pictures of the cookie trays) that I give to some of my friends and neighbors.  The box is your basic box - scored on all four sides, cut in on each corner, folded up and glued.  I scalloped the top edge with SU!'s scalloped border punch before I folded and glued it.  I drew the gingerbread label on my computer and made sure it was the perfect size to be able to punch it out with the Wide Oval punch from Stampin' Up!  Then I layered it on a piece of Chocolate Chip SU! cardstock that I die cut with a scalloped Nestability die.  The Really Red card stock and the brads are from SU!  The polka dot paper is from my stash, sorry no source.  The ribbon is from Michael's.

Here is a close-up of the label.

Next up, are some mini gingerbread men.  They were SO cute!!!  Our school secretary was my Secret Santa person and she actually thought I bought them at Starbucks or something!  Nothing stamped here, but I just wanted to share the wrapping.  I gave one of these little organdy bags filled with a Chai tea bag and a couple of little gingerbread men to our secretary on day one of our Secret Santa exchange.  I didn't get a picture of hers, but the bag was ivory, tied with the same style of ribbon but in gold, and the jingle bell was polished gold.

I wanted to give everyone in the bell choir that I am in at my church a little something for Christmas too, so what better than a bell??  So they each got one of these little bags filled with a mini gingerbread man and a couple of other homemade treats.  I have  some little glassine bags that I placed each cookie in prior to putting them in the organdy bags to keep the bag clean and control any *unsightly* crumbs.

Here are a few of the jingle bell bags in white with polished silver bells.

Here is another simple box I made to hold a bag of snowball cookies.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but the sides are not totally folded together making the box angle outward and giving a little more room on the inside of the box.  (Does that make sense??)  The card stock used here is from a Christmas pad that I bought last year from DCWV.  I punched out 4 Martha Stewart snowflakes and sandwiched the silver cord between two of the snowflakes on the tie ends.

Here are a couple more little boxes to hold holiday goodies.  Just 2-4-6-8 boxes, except I adjust the sizes to accomodate what I'm putting in them.  To make the windows in these boxes I used a scalloped rectangle Nestability die.  I also used the SU! Bigz Top Note die to make the topper for the box on the right.  Again, I drew the labels on my computer, making sure they fit perfectly to be punched out with the SU! Wide Oval punch.  Oh, and in case you were wondering what is in the box on the right...it's just fudge.  Each piece is individually packaged in a little glassine bag.  The card stock is from DCWV and Provo Craft Christmas slabs.

Here is the last item that I actually got to take a picture of before I gave it away.  It's the simplest of all!!  A fancy plastic tumbler filled with nut brittle and wrapped in cellophane.  I just wanted to share the dangling snowflakes on the cord.  Here again, I just sandwiched the cord between two snowflakes that I punched with a Martha Stewart snowflake punch.  EASY!!

I've got to run!  My friend, Helen, just called me to say we're going to CHADO in Pasadena for tea.  We always take each other to tea or lunch at one of our favorite places while we are on Christmas vacation (she's a teacher too).  If you ever have a chance to go to CHADO Tea Room...DO IT!!  I know the owner because both of her children attended elementary school where I teach and I was their 2nd grade teacher.  She is a very nice lady and knows EVERYTHING there is to know about tea.  They also have their original tea room in Los Angeles on Third, near La Cienega, one in downtown LA, and the newest one in India (just in case you ever go there!).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope everyone of you had a wonderful Christmas and will have a very happy New Year!

P.S.  I LOVE getting your comments!!  (hint hint)

Dimensional Poinsettia Card

This card is pretty straightforward.  Just layers.  The poinsettia was stamped twice, once on the oval scalloped layer and once on a scrap.  I just cut the center petals out of the flower stamped on the scrap.  This was layered onto the flower stamped on the oval scalloped layer. 

Materials:
stamps - A Chemistry With Paper
                Daisies & Dots
                Poinsettias & Holly
                Christmas Greetings
card stock - Stampin' Up!
                  Very Vanilla
                  Riding Hood Red
                                                                                 inks - Stampin' Up!
                                                                                 Riding Hood Red
                                                                                 Forest Foliage
                                                                                 ribbon - Stampin' Up!
                                                                                 die - Scallop Oval Nestabilities

I'll be back later this week or on the weekend to post a few more things I have to share with you.  Have a good evening!  Thanks for looking!

Christmas Triangle Box

I really enjoy creating or finding little boxes to make like this triangle box.  You can find a tutorial by Beate Johns on Splitcoaststampers for this simple, but unique box.
It's an easy box to make with stunning results.  I made this one from a 12" x 6" piece of card stock from a Christmas Stack from Die Cuts With a View.  The Merry Christmas stamp is from A Chemistry With Paper.  The scallop oval dies are Nestabilities, and the circle and scallop circle punches are from Stampin' Up!  Other card stocks used are Very Vanilla and Riding Hood Red from Stampin' Up!  The Riding Hood Red ink is also from Stampin' Up!  The green brads are from American Crafts.  The ribbon is from an unknown source.  I filled this little box with the new Hershey Dark Chocolate Mint Kisses...that's why it's lower right corner is bulging a bit.  ; )
Thanks for stopping by!

Silvery, Shimmery Snowflakes & a Bag

Here's another bag that's easy to make but has an elegant look to it.

Materials used:

snowflake stamp - A Chemistry With Paper
silver card stock - source unknown
Sizzlets snowflake dies
scallop circle punch, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" circle punches, dimensionals, Real Red classic ink, and Real Red card stock - SU!
silver ribbon - Michael's
red ribbon - Martha Stewart
Lace Scallop edge punch - Martha Stewart
Crystal brads - source unknown
Pallet New Canvas Hybrid Ink (white ink) - Stewart Superior

I've got more, but it's bedtime.  I'll try to post some more later this week.

Thank you for stopping by.  Leave me a comment and let me know you were here!

Have a great week!

Baja Breeze Snowflakes

This color combination is growing on me!  Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red.  I covered this bag with two pieces of Baja Breeze card stock that I embossed with a Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder.  The seem where the two pieces meet is covered by the ribbon.  The stamps are from A Chemistry With Paper. The papers and ink are from SU!  Oh yeah, I also stamped on the tissue with Baja Breeze ink and used the SU! scallop edge punch to scallop the edges of the tag and the layered elements on the front of the bag.  A corner rounder was used on the red and white layers.  The ribbon is also from SU!

Thanks for looking!

NOEL Nugget Tin

Here's a really simple Nugget tin.  The Nuggets are wrapped in SU! DP.  The NOEL stamp
is from A Chemistry With Paper.  NOEL is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and watercolored with Riding Hood Red ink.  I die cut and embossed the oval tag using the large scalloped oval Nestability die.  Then I lightly sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa ink.Other supplies:
ink - Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red - SU!
ribbon - Michael's
horizontal slot punch - SU!
tin  - ACWP (These are not in the online store yet, but you can e-mail them if you'd like to order some.  They sell for $1.80 each.)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Gingerbread Box Bag

These little box bags are so easy and fun to make!  I absolutely love them.  This one is made with DP and Kraft card stock from SU!  The sentiment, scalloped frame, and gingerbread men stamps are all from ACWP.

Other supplies used:
ribbon - Michael's
inks - Close to Cocoa classic - SU!
scallop circle and round tab punches - SU!
Crop-A-Dile or 1/8" and 1/4" hole punches
dimensionals - SU!
ATG tape gun with Gold adhesive - Scotch or other strong adhesive

Thanks for looking!

Thanks to those of you have been leaving comments too!  I really enjoy them and thank you for taking the time to write them.

Only 24 Days to Christmas!

I hope everyone had a very nice Thanksgiving and enjoyed the time with family and friends reflecting on the blessings God has given you.  I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, probably because I love cooking and baking and decorating things...they just go hand in hand.

I've been playing around with ways to package little treats in ways suitable for gift giving.  Who wouldn't love a little package filled with something yummy?  This idea came from a project in the SU! Idea Book and Catalog.  The cookies are in glassine bags that I cut down and scalloped the edges with the SU! scallop edge punch.  Then I stuck a piece of DP with rounded corners at the top on the front of the bag, wrapped a piece of ribbon around it and it's done.  I have to admit, this is super easy but time consuming.  Not fast enough in my opinion to mass produce.  It is a nice presentation though if you don't have too many to make.  The DPs are from Die Cuts With A View and the ribbon is from Michael's.  The card stock is from SU! - Real Red and Old Olive.

This next picture shows the box cover and band.  The band is stamped with the "Happy Birthday Jesus" stamp and "Merry Christmas" in SU! Old Olive and Real Red classic ink.  The stamps are from ACWP.

The last picture shows the box closed with the band on.

The scalloped circles were made with Sizzix dies.  The Old Olive scalloped circle was also punched with an 1/8" hole punch in each scallop.

Thanks for stopping by.  I have more to post tonight, so don't go away!