Christmas Card turned into Book

I received this Christmas card from my friend Lisa two years ago. 

Since so many of cards received are handmade by friends I wanted

to use them in a creative way. 

Decided to turn them into little books. 

Took parchment paper, and an envelope to create a notebook. 

Used simple pamphlet stitch to bind the pages in the card. 

To cover the greeting on the inside I used a piece of patterned paper. 

To the pages I did some stamping, and added a few pieces of ephemera.

I'm thinking I will "gift" the books back to the people who sent me the card. 

That way they can use them as a journal or to plan next year's Christmas card

lists, gifts, and so on. 

Stamping trails

Karen  

Up-Cycled Christmas Tag from Old Cards

My friend Melody sent me some cards she received for Christmas

last year. I turned some of them into these cute gift tags. 

Love the seascape one. Well I love how all of them turned out.

I used a 1 3/8 square punch on the pieces of the cards I wanted 

then glued them to a tag. Measurements for the tag is 3 1/8 x 4 3/4

Got the handy dandy Crop-a-dile out, and use some

of the many eyelets that I still have in my stash to

make a place for the ribbon. 

I have to, and from on the backs of the tags. 

Base of the tags have been stamped with different background stamps. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Hot Chocolate Spoon Pockets

These are hot chocolate packages I made up to

hand out at my cookie baking event. 

Made using a 8x8 piece of pattern paper. Some

simple folding to create the pocket. No glue was needed. 

Gotta love that! 

Used punches to create the center. Snowman is popped up over the layer. 

The peppermint spoons I found at the Dollar Tree. They are

sold in a package of six. Picked up several packages. Will

be making these next year for the craft show I'll be doing. 

I didn't want the spoon to fall out so I placed

the finished piece in a cello bag and added a matching topper

with the leftover scraps. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Christmas Goodies from Kathleen

Christmas arrived early for me yesterday!

My crafty friend Kathleen sent me a box packed with goodies. 

This trio of projects was made using cards from the Dollar Tree. 

She turned one into a notebook. 

One into a box that is holding hot chocolate. 

and the last one has a place to put two photos. 

What a great idea!!!! Going to have to borrow this idea for gifts next year! 

WOW look at the size of that ornament! I haven't taken it out of the packaging yet. 

I just want to admire it. Made from flannel, and topped with lots of ribbon, and trims. 

Closer view of the top. Kathleen outdid herself making this! 

Speaking of large things check out this very large rosette! 

This has to be the largest rosette ever made! 

and check out the back. Love that snowflake. 

Look how cute this little backpack is. There is a magnet on the inside flap

to keep it closed. 

Side view so you can see the straps of the pack. 

Santa box filled with snowman cookie cutters, and packaged sugar cookie mix. 

Perfect seeing how my annual cookie baking weekend is coming up. 

Little Santa tin filled with goodies from Bath, and Body works. 

also a new thimble for my collection. 

Big thanks Kathleen! Think you won this swap! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Christmas Embellishments

I finished the embellishments for a swap I joined. 

This one features some cardstock scallop circle flowers. 

Raided my brad drawer (yes I have a drawer just for brads) and

found some pearl ones that have silver edges. 

After punching the cardstock I ran the brad through three layers

of the punches, then got the cardstock damp. I crumbled up the flowers and

let them air dry. 

This designer panel I layered on to green, and then cream cardstock. 

I added some pearls, wink of Stella, and a fun tassel. 

Rosette made with designer paper. After I popped up the greeting

I added tinsel around the outside edge. 

Here is a side view. 

Another greeting using the white tinsel. 

I used silver foil to make the cap for the ornament then

used the stylus to make lines so it would look like an ornament cap. 

Santa's beard was "fluffed" with Aleene's glitter snow. Gives

it real dimension. Also added a silver/white pom pom. 

 

 

Another rosette. 

 

 

Little clip with snowflake, rhinestone, and silver thread. 

 

I'm still working on a few more swaps. Then I have to stop joining them

 

and move on to finishing Christmas gifts. Really want to put the 

 

tree up, but its to early. 

 

And speaking of early.....Me and hubby went to Tuesday Morning (yesterday on Tuesday morning)

 

and we heard Christmas music!!! Yup the stores are already playing Christmas songs. 

 

And.....Strongsville had the square already decorated with the tree, lights, and everything. 

 

It is true Christmas does start the day after Halloween!!!! 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Christmas Embellishments

I've been working on some Christmas embellishments for 

a swap I signed up for. 

I have to make a total of 12 embellishments. 

This is the first one I did. Don't  know

if you can see it in the photo but there is a clear plastic

tag glued over the Santa. I then added the metal tag that

has the word "magic" on it. To finish it off I added the 

lace knot. 

Here is another one I did. The designer paper I picked up at Hollo's

was printed with these wreaths. I punched one out with a scallop circle punch. 

Sponged the edges with green then added the pearls and some wink of Stella. 

This was then mounted with pop dots over a larger scallop punch piece. 

This one was stamped with a script stamp, and edges sponged. I also glued

on some loops of very thin gold thread before the wreath piece was put on. 

Well two down only 10 more to go! 

I had a very nice surprise. Sarah called me about 4:30 yesterday afternoon, and

just wanted to drop over for a visit. We made dinner together and chatted. Always good

to see her. While she was here I got a call from the voting office. They

wanted to know if I would be willing to work at the polls on November 8th. 

I told them I would love to. I have to go to training this Saturday. They are also

putting me in charge of the other people working at the polls at my location. 

How cool is that! I've always wanted to work at the polls. Was going to do

it for the last election we had but didn't feel I was up to it so soon after I had

my knee replaced. 

People have been asking me how Cherokee is doing. 

She is recovering nicely. I'm taking her this morning to 

get the stitches out. Thanks for caring about my 4 legged

fur baby. 

Stamping trails

Karen

VC Rocks Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome to the VC Rocks Holiday Blog Hop. 

I used Home for Christmas designer paper to make this

cute little drawer/box. 

The top flap opens up to reveal the greeting. 

I lined the drawer with the same green cardstock as the reindeer is layered on. The

drawer pull is just a piece of jute twine. 

I love this stamp set that is in the upcoming occasions catalog.

Its called Going Global. I had to use it for a Christmas card to my hubby. 

Plus I thought the stars would be perfect to use on an Etch-a-Sketch card. 

My last project is just plain silly! I used September's Paper Pumpkin and turned

the little brown fringed bag into a reindeer. 

Not my idea as I saw another person post one, but I added antlers by using 

the wing from the bird die (retired). 

Don't forget to check out the other fun holiday projects by visiting 

the VC Rocks Blog. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Home for Christmas Frame Art

Frame art using Home for Christmas designer paper. 

Frame is 8x8.

I used different stamp sets, and embellishments. 

I got lucky and caught the frames while they were on sale at Pat Catan's. 

Gotta love a sale. 

Suppose to be bright and sunny today and in the mid 50's. 

Think we will be going outside and just soak it in before we

get more snow. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Candy Cane Reindeer Holders

I made reindeer candy cane holders. 

I've been looking for something to wrap the red pom-pom trim that

I purchased from SU in September. I thought about 

getting those mini string of lights used for minature trees, but thought

I had to use the pom pom trim. 

Cardstock used Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, and Soft Suede. 

I like the Crumb Cake one the best. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Sleigh Ride Ornament

Well my desk is still a mess but at least I got one of my projects finished. 

I cased this ornament from Tami White. 

I had to cut it down as I purchased the wrong size plastic ornament. 

Inside is made using Sleigh Ride Edgelits. Colors White, Pool Party, and

Island Indigo. 

I had lots of mica flakes that I purchased some years ago from SU, and

used them on the inside to make it look like a snow globe. 

Here is a side view. I used white seem binding and ruffled it 

around the outside edge. It was easy to attach it using hot glue. 

Okay on to the next project! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Home for Christmas Gift Tags

I made some gift tags yesterday. 

Designer paper Home for Christmas. Love that paper! 

I also used Holiday Ornament framelits, gold thread, real red, pool party, and

white cardstock. 

Can't really see from the photo but I ran the red ornaments 

through the snow embossing folder and used a gold sharpie marker across

the top of each ornament. 

Me and hubby went out to eat yesterday, and did a little bit of shopping. 

We had a great Thanksgiving, but its been raining ever since. 

I guess it is better than having snow! Oh no I said that dirty 4 letter word. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Home for Christmas Notebook

This little book was fun to make this morning. 

It features Home for Christmas designer paper. 

I got to use some new toys, Hearth and Home, and Fireside framelits. 

Greeting from Jingle all the Way stamp set. 

Love the little kitty looking out the window. 

I added some twine around the binding and two little jingle bells. 

Here is a side view of the notebook. I picked it

up at Pat Catan's. Its just a little kraft paper book. 

I like that the inside pages has lines to write on. 

Stamping trails

Karen