Easel Card - by CorrieW

Supplies

• 4” x 12” piece of card stock
• 3.75” x 3.75” piece of decorative card stock
• 3.75” x 3.75” piece of white card stock
• 1-1.5” x 3.75” piece of card stock
• Distress ink (optional)
• Adhesive
• Scoring Tool
• Embellishments, stamps, etc

CC Supplies

• 6x6 Be Merry Paper by MME
• Broken China Distress Ink
• Crystal Stickles
• Ribbon

Instructions

• Take a 4” x 12” piece of card stock and cut at 4”. You will have two pieces a 8” x 4” (base) and a 4” x 4” (card top)

• Take the base piece and line it up horizontally, score it at 2” and 4”

• Fold it in half at the 4” mark and then over itself again at the 2” mark (like an accordion fold)
  
  
• Cut a piece of pattern paper 3.75” x 3.75”, decorate and embellish as desired.  Once it is embellished adhere to the top piece (4” x 4”)
  
  
• Adhere the 4”x 4” top piece to the accordion fold and line it up so that when the card is flat it is 4”x 4” (top of the base piece to the top of the accordion fold)

• Take a 3.75” x 1.5” strip (punch, stamp or embellish if desired) and adhere to the bottom of the 3.75” x 3.75” white piece (this is where the top will rest on, creating the easel effect).  Since this part will be visible when the card is open, you can place your greeting here or do some other decorative effect. 

• Open the card and adhere the 3.75” x 3.75” piece of white card stock to the bottom on the inside.
  
  
• When closed the card will measure 4” x 4”, but when open the top piece can rest on the small piece (1.5” x 3.75”) and create an easel

Snowflake Paper & Snowmen Fingerprint Stamps by Scrappy Canuck Karen

Snowflake Paper & Snowmen Fingerprint Stamps

The technique for the blue embellishment paper on the card was actually discovered by my two year old daughter!  I let her loose with some Distress Stain and she came up with a neat pattern that reminded me of snowflakes. I also wanted to get my younger 8 month old daughter involved in the projects (after all, it is never too early to start crafting), so the idea of the fingerprint snowmen grew from there! So there you have it - a project easy enough that even a 2 year old can do it!  Merry Christmas everyone!  

Materials:

·  Any size plain coloured cardstock - Just be aware that this technique does involve a fair amount of splashing, so a larger piece works best!

·  Distress Stain - Broken China

·  Distress Ink - Broken China

·  Jar or container

·  Paint brush

·  Sandpaper

·  Crackle Accents (optional)

Snowflake Paper

1.     Using your Distress Stain (Broken China), add a few dabs to the bottom of a container.  Add about 4-5 tbl of water.  

2.     Take your paint brush and saturate with the watered down Distress Stain.  Using a flicking motion, or by tapping the paint brush, splash colour down onto your cardstock.

3.     Using the Distress Satin in the container, randomly dab the stain onto your paper. Use a forceful arm movement so the stain splatters when it hits the cardstock. The harder you hit the dauber onto the paper, the more your splatter will look like a snowflake. 

4.     Trim your paper down to the size you will need for your project.  

5.     Using the coordinating Distress Ink in Broken China, use an applicator to swirl ink onto your cardstock.  Start on the outer edges and move inward in a circular motion.

6.     Take the sandpaper and run it along the edges of your paper to distress. 

7.     Using the Distress Ink in Walnut Stain, run your ink pad along each edge of the paper. If needed blend with a foam applicator.  This will give the edge of your paper a slightly "burnt" appearance.  

8.     Optional step - Using some Crackle Accents, apply generously to the snowflake splatters you have created. Set aside to dry. 

Alternative project idea - you could just use this technique to dress up some brown or white butcher paper for unique hand embellished wrapping paper.  

Snowmen Stamps

1.     Using Distress Ink in Broken China, simply press a finger into the ink and then place down firmly onto cardstock.  Use different size fingers for each of the levels of the snowmen.  

2.     Using a jounraling pen or permanent marker, draw in eyes, arms, and buttons on your snowmen.  Add a small scrap of oragne cardstock for a nose.  

3.     If desired, cover the ink fingerprints with Crackle Accents.  Allow to dry and then assemble your card!

How to Make a Pillow Box - by JeepMama Paula

How to make a pillow box:

 1.  Cut pillow box from cardstock.

2.  Find fold marks and fold long side.

3.  Add strong adhesive to long side.

4.  Find fold marks on side and fold them all.

5.  Place strong adhesive on ONE end and press firmly.

6.  Place an eyelet in the edge with the adhesive.

7.  Insert items in the box, and wrap with twine, ribbon, etc.

8.  Decorate front of box and hang from tree.

Greeting Card Holder - by Moon - Jenn

Items used were:

Elmers Foam Board

Making Memories Tinsel Paper

Ribbon

Stickles

Craft Knife

Glue

Letters:

Chipboard

Christmas Paper

Ink

buttons, ribbon, staples

Here’s the video to watch before reading the instructions:

I cut the foam board to be 8 inches wide by 32 inches long and covered it with MM tinsel paper.

Cut slits 1.5 inches into the side of the board.

Covered the joints with ribbon, and decorated it with stickles.

To make the letters, cover chipboard letters with Christmas paper.

Decorate each letter a bit differently.  Use buttons, ribbon, staples, etc.

Adhere letters down the center of the board.

Adhere ribbon to the back of the board to make a hanger for your project.

Christmas Traditions from the Design Team

Since Christmas is this weekend, we thought we'd share some of our favorite traditions with you. :)

Amber - Oyster Stew on Christmas Eve.  Disgusting!  Every boy of 13 has to eat one...some get to eat the same oyster many times. :)  I've never eaten one...don't ever care to!

Michele - We always read the birth of Jesus Christ from the New Testament on Christmas Eve and then will read another Christmas type story. We also have a "special" Santa key that we put out on the front door. Santa prefers to come in through the front door.....we have a gas fireplace and it's not a very comfortable situation for St. Nick if you know what I mean. ;) Christmas morning, we have a breakfast casserole and kick back and enjoy the day.

Paula - Since we have all the family to our house for Thanksgiving, we travel for Christmas.  We usually start on the 23rd (which is my oldest son's birthday) at the furthest point away and work our way back home, normally we arrive back home Christmas day afternoon.

Paula I - Since as long as I can remember we always have a nativity scene set up at our house.  It is not just there as a decoration, we truly try to remember what is so special about this holiday.  We stay up until midnight to place baby Jesus in the manger.  We have young children so the opening of the gifts and the cookies and milk for Santa are some of our favorite traditions as well.

Jenn - Our biggest tradition is being nontraditional. Last year, we spent Christmas in the Caribbean Islands. We saw Santa in St Marteen last year, and we Christmas caroled at sea. One year, we grilled NY Strip's on the grill, and swam in the pool on Christmas. While, we remember the reason for the season, we choose to celebrate it a bit differently than most.

Corrie-When I was a kid we were always allowed to open a gift on Christmas Eve, and always ended up being pajamas.  It wasn't till I got older that I realized that this was all my mom would put under the tree.  We used to take great care to pick our gift and it was always the same.  Now that I have kids we let them open one gift on Christmas eve, but its always a book so we can read it that night as a bed time story.

DeeDee - we have a "new" family and are just figuring out our own traditions... but so far the one that comes to mind first is dinner... Thanksgiving and Christmas are so close together.. that we try our best to make each dinner special... for example we had turkey and ham at Thanksgiving.. and for Christmas we'll do Prime Rib.. Thanksgiving desserts were fruit pies and fudge.. Christmas will be cookies and a boston cream pie (so far). It's fun making the two giant festivities different.. and our bellies love it, too!

Beth - our first Christmas in Ithaca was also my nephew's first Christmas.  Since we live 20 minutes from my sister, my parents travel to us (alternating their place of stay between my sister and I) so that the kids can be at home for the morning of.  Once we had kids, traditions within the immediate family became more important.  A few traditions we have are: we put up the tree as close to the first weekend in December as possible, the kids open Advent calendars starting December 1, we attend the Christmas Eve service (my favorite part is always when they turn the lights out at the end with everyone holding a lit candle and we sing Silent Night), Christmas Eve dinner is always at our house, we read "The Night Before Christmas" as a family, we put cookies and milk out for Santa, open presents at home Christmas morning, and then go to my sister's for more presents and prime rib and grasshopper pie for Christmas dinner (a tradition my parents started when we were kids).  Then later that week or sometime in January we travel to PA to celebrate Christmas with my in-laws.  It draws out the fun and suspense of the holiday, which is both good and bad!!

Karen - In our family, Christmas is celebrated twice (how's that for a good tradition???!).  When I was growing up, Christmas Eve was the big day - we had our big dinner including a variety of different kinds of fish, and then sometime around 7:00pm, Santa would ring the doorbell, my brother and I would go and hide, and when we came out, the tree would be surrounded by gifts! On the other hand, my husband's family celebrated a more traditional Christmas on Christmas Day.  So, in our family, we have combined the two traditions.  Santa comes to visit Christmas Eve, and then comes back for a return visit during the night to fill stockings (with all the little leftovers he finds in the bottom of his sled).  It does mean a bit more work with two dinners, but I love the excitement of Christmas Eve followed by the relaxing feeling we now have on Christmas Day!  

Jamie- Christmas is our favorite holiday.  We always decorate the house and tree the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We count down to Christmas Day with Advent Calendars (one for each of my girls).  On Christmas Eve we listen to christmas music and have our big dinner (ham, greenbean casserole, potatoes, and pie). Mmmmmm....  We put on our christmas jammies and put cookies and milk out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. We have monkey bread, eggs and bacon on Christmas morning (after the presents have been opened).  Then play and relax the rest of the day. 

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and really take the time to enjoy the time with family and friends this weekend.  

Guest Designer - Julie Clawser - Paper Pinecones

Paper Pinecones

  

Materials:

3” Styrofoam ball

1- 12”x12” Sheet Patterned Paper

¾” Appliqué Pins

8” length ribbon

4” length ribbon

Paper trimmer & Bone folder

Optional: Corner Chomper (1/4” round) & Distress Inks/Blending Tool

Video:

Video:

Directions: 

1.)    Cut your 12x12 paper into twelve 1” strips, then cut each strip into six 2” sections – this with give you 72 small pieces of paper.

2.)    Take each section of paper, and fold it so that one of the long edges makes a point.  If your paper is 2-sided and it coordinates, feel free to fold some points on the reverse side.

 3.) Once you have all of your points folded, decide if you want ‘pointy’ points or rounded ones.  Leave the pointy points the way they are if you want pointy, or chomp the points and distress them if you want a more weathered looking pinecone.

 

4.) Start attaching your points, using appliqué pins, to the Styrofoam ball by making a square out of 4 points all pointing to a common center.  This will make the base of your pinecone.

5.) Once you have your base pinned down, start your second layer by pinning the long edge of a paper point over one of the 4 corners of your base.  Continue to cover the other 4 corners by repeating this step.

 

6.) Continue to pin points around the ball, making sure to cover any exposed Styrofoam.  Use your creative license to space the layers properly – you will probably use all 72 pieces of paper!

7.) When you are about ½ way up the Styrofoam ball, you’ll need to attach the ribbon you’ll be using as a hanger.  Pin the end of the ribbon on both sides of the ball, and also at the top where it will stick out.

 8.) Continue to layer your points and keep working your way up the ball, working over the ribbon to keep it in place.  When you reach the top, take your 4” ribbon and tie a bow around the base of the hanging ribbon and you’re finished!

These ribbons are from Stampin’ Up & the paper is from the Making Memories Noel line.  I went back and used Stickles on the berries that were showing on the brown points – it added a nice little sparkle to the pinecone.

These ribbons are taffeta tied around My Mind’s Eye Lush Trim in Red, and the paper is from Making Memories Noel line.

Have fun customizing these for all of your favorite people this Holiday – You can knock one of these out in about an hour!

Happy Holidays!

Paper Stockings - by D2 - DeeDee

"Hey everybody!! When I started out to do this project I had this grand scheme about doing a PAPER stocking... sewing and paper pieces.. distressing and filling.. then hanging it from the mantle and admiring my beautiful work for the next month and a half... Um, NO! that is not what happened. But I have found a new for SIMPLICITY! So today I have for you.. a CONE. That's right.. a cone.

String it, fill it, and hang it! Very similar to a stocking, with a slight design difference :)

Plus.. it's a TON easier to make! 

My supplies:

Echo Park's everybody loves chirstmas (Easily replaced with Holly Jolly, Times and Seasons or any type of great paper!)

recycled packaging material from CC (I know there have been questions on how to recycle this.. Here's one!)

twine (Think that gorgeous Twinery goodness that CC now has!)

CHRISTMAS GOODES (lollies, reese's trees, chocolate coal, peppermint chews and candycanes! 

Steps:

1) cut circle (I did 10 inches)

2) Distress (optional)

3) Fold in sides.. do not crease :)

4) Glue edge!

5) Punch holes (one on each side)

6) String that twine!!

7) Line with paper for an added "pretty"

8) FILL WITH GOODIES!!!

Here's a short video on just how to bring in the sides and make your cone!

Now my children, during this joyous holiday.. go forth and CREATE GOODIE FILLED CONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everybody! Over n out -DeeDee!"

Christmas Cottage - by Cricutica Paula I.

Products Used:

Echo Park Season's Greetings 12x12 paper kit

Lush Rhinestones - Turquoise & Fuchsia

Ranger Distress Stain - Broken China

Ranger Stickles - Eucalyptus

Stampin' Up textured cardstock - Pool Party

Tombo liquid glue

Cricut Winter Woodland Cartridge

Tools used:

Cricut machine

Score pal

Using two sheets contrasting 12x12 paper cut out winter woodland house using cricut cartridge or cut by hand.

Assemble structure by using scoring tool to achieve sharp edges.

Glue structure together and allow time to dry.

Use distress stain all along edges of windows and any other exposed sides or edges.

Use rhinestones along edges of roof top and chimney.

Pick tag or label from paper kit and attach on roof or side of house to send perfect greeting!

Add the final touch by dabbing Stickles on the label.

Christmas Bulbs - by Scrappy Canuck Karen

Karen created these great Christmas Bulbs as home decor for her holiday celebrations.  They can be used for so many other things!  Take a look at these and see what you can do with them!

(Click to enlarge)

Exploding Card - by MicheleMcKay

How to make an Exploding Card

You will need:

1 piece of paper cut to 4 ¼” x 10” folded in half to make a  4 ¼” x 5” card

1 piece of double sided paper cut to 6” x 6”

Adhesive

To start, you will need to take the 6” x 6” paper and fold it in half. Then rotate the paper and fold in half again.

Next, open up the paper and fold it corner to corner making a triangle. Rotate the paper and fold corner to corner again.

Open the paper and take the center creases and fold inside making the creases meet in the middle of the paper. This will make a triangle.

Next step is to find the center crease on the triangle and fold the corner to the crease. Then fold the other corner to the crease. Turn the paper over and repeat on the remaining two corners.

Next step is to take the folded corners and fold them inside. Once this is done to all four corners, your triangle has changed to the shape of a house. ;)

Take your adhesive and go along the edges on one side of the house. Turn it over and place the top corner of the house (what would look like the top of the rooftop) inside of your card, making sure that the rooftop (I’m now singing “Up on the housetop”) meets the center of the crease of the card.  Take your adhesive and go along the edges of the side facing upwards. Fold the other side of the card over the house and make sure it is glued down really well.

The final step is to open the card and….WOW….it “explodes” and is ready for you to add that special something to make your card complete.

Advent Calendar - by LilMissCrafter Jamie

Good morning and Happy December!!

The new Design Team theme for the month is creating a project that you and your family can do together.  We've got some amazing projects, a Guest Designer, and 1 more fun thing up our sleeves for December.  Enjoy!

Amber :)

Here's Jamie's project.

Materials used:

Paper and stickers from the Holly Jolly Christmas paper pack by Echo Park

Ribbon, Yarn (Martha Stewart), clothespin, button from Michael's

Mica Flakes by Melissa Francis

Instructions:

1. Start with a 12" x 12" piece of patterned paper (highlighted yellow on the sketch).

2.  Cut and adhere the 8.5" x 8.5" x 12" triangle with tab to the back side of the paper in step 1 to form the roof (highlighted in orange).

3. Cut and adhere the 2.5" x 6" rectange to the back of 1 & 2 to form the chimney (highlighted in blue).

4. Cut and adhere 24 2" x 2" squares as shown to form the pockets (highlighted in green).

5. Cut out and adhere an embellishment to a clothespin. You will use it to clip to each pocket to use for the countdown.

6. Punch a hole in the house where desired and attach #5 to it with string, yarn, twine, ribbon, etc.

7. Embellish as desired with glitter for snow and other decorations.