Holiday Treasures

What are your holiday treasures? They don't have to be anything pricey, they are just holiday "things" that hold a special place in your heart. One of my holiday treasures is my collection of Hallmark ornaments. They adorn the family tree each year, and I look forward to opening each of the boxes (okay, not all, DH's golden Elvis is really kinda scary) a few days after Thanksgiving.

I purchased this particular Elzybell stamp because it reminded me of one of my beloved Hallmark ornaments. My mother-in-law gave it to me. He is just SO cute sleeping there peacefully in a red-flocked Santa hat.

I first stamped the mouse/cap with Black StazOn ink on watercolor paper. I colored the mouse in with Creamy Caramel reinkers using my beloved aquapainter. I just layered the color until I got the amount of shadow and highlights I needed. I did the same with the cap using my Real Red reinker. The fur on the cap is heated Liquid Applique with some Dazzling Diamonds sprinkled on before heating.

I then stamped the pine branches (from Peaceful Wishes) to make it look like he was sleeping under the tree. Mr. Mouse kinda looked like he was floating in mid air. So, I decided to draw in a snowflake tree skirt. I used my aquapainter and Brocade Blue watercolor wonder crayons. Once I got the color and shadowing I wanted, I went in with one of my $1 Michael's snowflake stamps and my Brocade Blue ink pad to stamp a pattern on the tree skirt.

I finished up the image with a sponging of So Saffron to give it a "glow" from the lights.

The basecard is Brocade Blue. I embossed a piece of Bashful Blue cardstock with my snowflakes Cuttblebug embossing folder. I then cut this piece into three equal pieces. I sponged with my Whisper White craft pad to accentuate the snowflakes.

I still felt that it needed something, so I added a small red bow in the corner.

I think I may frame this one and make it a new holiday treasure.

So, now it's your turn......what is your holiday treasure? Leave me a comment....I would love to hear about it!!!

Until tomorrow.....Happy Stamping everyone!!

I am really happy with the way it turned out!!!

A Perfect Gift for......

I always have a hard time figuring out what to give the teachers (esp. since the kids are in middle/high school....all those teachers), bus drivers, dance teacher, taekwondo teacher, etc..... I think I have found this year's "go to" gift. The packaging makes it look so special.

I bought these tins from Papertrey ink. They hold 12 Hershey Nuggets so perfectly. Who doesn't love chocolate?

Each of the candies are wrapped with a mailing label that I brayered with Bashful Blue ink. I randomly stamped with a snowflake stamp from "Holiday Tag Team" using Chocolate Chip classic ink.

The belly band for the tin is made using both Bashful Blue (stamped with my jumbo Bold Snowflake wheel and a Bashful Blue ink cartridge) and Chocolate Chip cardstock. I sponged the edges with Close to Cocoa ink and tied a knot with the 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon.

The greeting is made with the "Circle of Friendship" stamp set. I stamped the Holiday Hello message with Chocolate Chip ink on Very Vanilla and Bashful Blue. Using my 1/2" circle punch, punch the center out of the sentiment stamped on the Bashful Blue cardstock. Adhere this circle to the Very Vanilla circle (which was punched out using the 1" circle punch). Mount all of this on a 1 1/4" circle punched from Choc Chip cardstock. Punch a hole in the top with the 1/8" handheld circle punch and tie to the chocolate chip ribbon with a piece of silver elastic cord.

That's all there is to it.....a perfect gift for the people who make a difference in the life of my children!!!

Until tomorrow....Happy Stamping everyone!

An Ode to the Old Neighborhood!

If anyone from the old neighborhood in NY is reading this blog, this card is dedicated to you!! We definitely had a party neighborhood. It was so much fun to live there!!!

I love this little penguin who had a little too much holiday cheer. I got him from Jessica Lynn Original stamps. The stamp set name is "Penguin Brothers Celebrating the Holiday". Check her stuff out....she has some really nice designs. I even gave him really blushy cheeks to show that he's had one too many...LOL! I wrote the saying myself using one of my too many downloaded computer fonts.

It says: "One martini.....good! Two martinis...Nice!! Three martinis.....Great!!! Four martinis.....ICE!!!!". Cute huh? I was quite proud of myself!!!

Anyway, on to the "deets" of this card. The card measures 4.25"x4.25". The basecard is Blue Bayou, followed by Whisper White which is then followed by Soft Sky. The soft sky layer is stamped with the snowflake stamp which comes with the set in Soft Sky ink.

I stamped Tipsy the Penguin (yes, I named my stamp) in Basic Black ink on Whisper White cardstock. I colored him using a combination of Watercolor Wonder crayons, ink refills and markers (for the blush of the cheek). I used my Stardust gellyroll pen to color in the martini. I punched him out with the SU Scallop Circle punch. I sponged the edges with Blue Bayou ink and added some holes using my paper piercing tool. I then mounted Tipsy on a circle cut with my Coluzzle (which was then heavily sponged with Whisper White craft ink). I added a little knot of Blue Bayou double-stitched grosgrain ribbon to make him look extra special.

The saying was printed on vellum cardstock. I mounted it over my Soft Sky layer. I used a photo corner (punched using the SU photo corner punch) to hide any adhesive marks. Another photo corner is placed in the opposite corner to balance the card.

To all my old neighbors from NY, this one's for you. We miss you SO much!!!

Until tomorrow....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Holiday Giftables Stamp Camp Projects

I am holding my first gift class of the season this Friday. The class is called Holiday Giftables Stamp Camp. I am holding two session: 1pm and 7pm.

We are making four projects: a snowman globe ornament, a Holiday Memories mini album perfect for photos and/or journaling, a decorated candy tin filled with chocolate and a beautiful gold embossed candle.

It's unbelievable to see some houses in the neighborhood with their Christmas lights on all ready. The Mall of America has already celebrated the arrival of Santa. Wow, I just really need to realize that the holiday season is truly here!!!

Have you started your holiday shopping? I have some things, but not even close to being finished. My Christmas cards aren't even started yet. I guess I should start designing them, huh?

Oh well, I'm off to finish some laundry......until tomorrow!

Happy Stamping everyone!

What a Day!

During my last post, I mentioned that I was going to a HUGE craft fair with my Mom, sister-in-law and DD. It took us 5 hours to get through this craft fair. I bought some beautiful things there.....not many Christmas items this time. I bought some T'giving, snowmen and Easter (believe it or not).

Anyway, I'm tired!! DD is tired!! So, I'm pretty much parked on the couch with my laptop in my lap catching up on all my favorite blogs.

I wanted to post another project that we will be making at my Holiday Giftables Stamp Camp this Friday. This is my Holiday Memories album. I created it with some chipboard coasters and my Bind It All.

Santa looks like he is dancing, doesn't he? He is from the Holiday Tag Team stamp set. I must admit that the little snowman is my favorite stamp from that set, but I do tend to use this Santa an awful lot too!!! The picture doesn't truly show how sparkly he is.

If you are interested in taking this class, please send me an email via the link a little bit under my picture. I live near the Twin Cities!!! I would love to have you join us!!

Tomorrow is football day (have I ever mentioned that I am leading the family in the number of correct picks this season), but I do plan on some stamping. I have a couple of orders for the "countdown to Christmas" calendar kits that I need to get ready for shipment.

Until tomorrow.....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Gobble, Gobble!

I've been looking for a cute line image turkey for a while now. This little guy sure fits the bill! He is a clear acrylic stamp from Jessica Lynn Original stamps (she's got some really cute stuff....I encourage you to check them out). His name is Tom Turkey, and he was so much fun to watercolor.

As always, I use my watercolor paper when I want to watercolor (that sounds redundant, but it's a MUST). I used my aquapainter and reinkers to color him in. His body is Creamy Caramel, and his feathers are Ruby Red, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust (with a little bit of Close to Cocoa to show some extra variation from the Pumpkin Pie). His top hat is Old Olive with some More Mustard and Stardust Gelly Roll pen on his buckle. Mr. Tom Turkey is sponged with Close to Cocoa ink and some doodles were added with my Close to Cocoa marker. His corners are punched with my all time favorite Ticket Corner punch. I matted him on some Ruby Red and added two Old Olive brads to the top two corners. I added some 1/4" chocolate grosgrain ribbon for a final touch, and he is dressed in his Thanksgiving best.

My More Mustard layer was dry embossed with one of my unopened Cuttlebug templates that were sitting there lonely in a drawer. I also sponged the edges of this layer with Close to Cocoa. The rest of the card is pretty self explanatory (Choc Chip basecard and an Old Olive band).

Well, what do you think of my card?

I'm off to bed soon....need to get up early for the big craft fair tomorrow.

Happy Stamping everyone!

Holiday Giftables Class - Sneak Peek

Here is one of four projects we will be making at next Friday's (November 16th) Holiday Giftables Stamp Camp. This is an elegant gold embossed candle. Although I designed it for the holidays, it can proudly be displayed all year round. We all need "Peaceful Wishes" each and every day of the year.

If you live near the Twin Cities and want more information about this class, please email me. The link can be found a little below my picture.

I will try to post over the weekend. I am heading to a HUGE craft fair with my Mom, sister-in-law and DD tomorrow. We will be there for hours....told you it was huge.

Happy Stamping everyone!!!