Last-mInute Christmas Gifts!

We all have that one holiday gift we forget to buy, don’t we? The new neighbor, our hair stylist, Uncle Joe who just moved back to town…forgetting a gift for any of these could cause more stress during a season that should be fun. If you have a last minute addition to your list, here are a few ideas that are quick and relatively simple. Best of all, they use products that almost every crafter keeps on hand. The projects use the Jingle All the Way Bundle to create gorgeous gifts anyone would love to receive. They also make beautiful home décor pieces for your holiday decorating. And since they’re winter themed, they can stay up into the New Year.

This fun and practical project was made by Buffy Cooper, and it's the Bonus project for the month of November over at Craft Project Central. Bonus projects can be obtained by subscribing to two or more months in a row, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or by referring a friend and when they subscribe, letting us know.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B 

Honeycomb Star Ornament Gift Set!

Make this beautiful 3D honeycomb star ornament to deck your halls with some holiday sparkle. Or give this lovely ornament as a gift with the coordinating card and box that allows the ornament to spin inside and show off that sparkle. This would make an excellent hostess gift or class project! The patterns, colors, and stamps can easily be changed out to match those of another holiday if you don’t celebrate Christmas.

This super cool project was made by Amanda Corbet, and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Altered Muffin Tin Decor & Greeting Card!

As the holiday season is nearing, wouldn’t it be fun to decorate your home with this holiday décor item? Perfect for your table, wall, or refrigerator, this sweet 3-D project could also work as a countdown calendar, and for hiding holiday treats and treasures. Give your craft punches and dies a workout to make holiday scenes, getting a glimpse of all the fun and precious things you are looking forward to. This project is also great for holiday stamp camps and small classes.

This sweet project was made by Monika Davis, and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Hello December Organizer & Holiday Accessories!

You’ll say a happier hello to December when you’re organized and ready for this busiest of months!  This project features the Hello December 2015 Project Life Card Collection and Hello December 2015 Project Life Accessory Pack as a fun organizer…with the support of a double Berry Basket to help keep everything together!  This project also includes lovely ornaments, three sets of holiday gift tags and three holiday greeting cards.  This project and these amazing Project Life cards…in combination with the bright, fun accessories...are the perfect canvas for an organized December and a lovely holiday season!

This super cute project was made by Sue Plote, and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Thankful for a Quick Sketch Challenge!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I wanted to make a couple cards to send out before the big day is here! So I used the Creating Pretty Cards sketch over at Craft Project Central to get me inspired. I love the simple, and quick layout this time!

Here's the sketch ~

I used the Into the Woods Designer Series Paper, the Thankful Forest Friends Stamp Set, and my latest favorite little add-on is the Brights Sequins. I love the little Pop! those sequins give any project!!

You have time to join the Creating Pretty Cards Sketch Challenge - just hop on over to Craft Project Central, and check it out!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Advent Calendar Banner Box Set!

Celebrate each day of December up to Christmas with a sweet little treat all held on a twine banner in these cute little boxes that are all decked out in red and gold. Want to give this banner as a gift? The coordinating box holds all 25 boxes folded flat with mini clothespins, twine, and decorative trim.

This awesome project was made by Amanda Corbet, and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Christmas Lodge Gift Set!

With the holidays approaching, many of us are looking for creative gifts and packaging to show appreciation for the wonderful people in our lives. Look no further! Delight someone special on your list with this beautiful Christmas Lodge Gift Set! The Christmas Lodge Gift Box looks like it was taken right out of a charming mountain scene. It is a stunning way to package goodies or a gift and can be used as a decorative centerpiece after the gift is opened! And the December 2015 Mini Book is the perfect gift to go inside! Learn the simple saddle stitch to create this custom book and create a photo album or journal to capture all of the Christmas memories this year. A coordinating card tops off this festive ensemble! And if you want a quick way to package gifts and treats this holiday season, the tag in this set is an easy way to dress up a cellophane bag.

This fun project was made by Julie Warnick and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B 

Peaceful Pines Stamp-a-Stack & Card Case!

You’ll enjoy the ease of using one stamp set and one set of dies to create a variety of Christmas cards that feature an array of simple decorative elements and techniques.  With this tutorial, you will make six cards and decorate a stamp case for storing them until time to drop them in the mail.  Once the case is empty, you’ll probably end up placing a gift in it for someone since it’s decorated and ready to go!  This ensemble is perfect for a class or stamp camp!

This pretty project was made by Regina Andari and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Decorative Masks Sampler Inspiration Canvas!

What can you do with decorative masks?  This tutorial is designed to expose you to a myriad of techniques you can use with your purchased or DIY decorative masks!  Learn how to combine masks with modeling paste, inks, sanding blocks, pens and more!  This canvas incorporates all of these techniques into a beautiful home décor item that is perfect for gift giving or hanging on your own wall.  Let’s explore what you can do with decorative masks!

This creative project was made by Michelle Wecksler, and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B 

NOEL Square Pillow Box Garland Gift Set!

Hang this festive garland for the holidays! The Square Pillow Box Thinlits Dies makes this cute décor item a cinch to put together! Plus, you’ll learn how to adapt the pillow box to make an Altered Open-Top Pillow Box – perfect for holding some special treats. After you’ve made a set for yourself, you can make the coordinating card and give another set as a gift! 

This holiday project was made by ME!! And you can get my tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Poinsettia Christmas Tree & Picture Frame!

If you love poinsettias at Christmas time, then this Christmas tree and picture frame will be perfect additions to your Christmas décor. The tree is full of poinsettias, and the frame has a beautiful large poinsettia attached to it. The frame would be perfect for a picture of your kids with Santa! This tutorial teaches how to make two different size poinsettias with the Festive Flower Builder Punch. It also features the Reason for the Season Stamp Set and Season of Cheer Designer Series Paper.

This pretty project was made by Christy Fulk, and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Self Closing Box for Stamp Class this Week!

This is the super fun box we're making at stamp classes this week! I found the design from a fellow demonstrator in Minnesota, Tanya Boser. She also used the Into the Woods DSP, which I really wanted to use - with it finally starting to be Fall around here! And I really love the contrast of the browns with the Rich Razzleberry! 

And here ya go, with a little closer look - Simple, but striking! Or, at least I think so!! 

And this is the coolest thing about the box - with a little squeeze on the sides of the box, you open the top! Too Cool, huh?! Let go, and it closes! 

And even cooler, there will be treats at class to put inside!! :) Well, unless you decide to eat them! :)

Hope to see you at class this week,

Julie B

Thankful Scrapbook with Pockets!

This fun-to-make book can be used for so many things – a scrapbook, a gratitude journal, a cook book, and more! It features the gorgeous Into the Woods Designer Series Paper for a fabulous fall look. There are lined pages for writing, pockets for adding items, and room for pictures. Preserve your autumn memories or give it as a gift with the matching card. It would also make an excellent class or club project.

This fun project was made by Yapha Mason, and you can get her tutorial when you subscribe to the month of November over at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie B

Creation Station Blog Hop - Lighthearted Leaves!

Hi there! If you're joining me from the Creation Station Blog Hop, welcome to my space! I hope you enjoyed Jennifer Downey's post. If you missed it, you can click HERE to go back. Here's what I have to share with you ~

I set out to achieve an elegant look with the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set. And what says elegance better than gold?! Well, maybe embossed gold!! So I embossed a few of the different Lighthearted Leaves in Gold onto the Blackberry Bliss Cardstock - so striking! I'm in love with the look!

On the card, I added some Winter Wonderland vellum paper onto a piece of Vanilla Cardstock to set off a little gold bling for the background. Then I added a layer of Gold Foil Sheet to the back of it!

And, for a little contrast on the leaves, I added some touches of Blackberry Bliss Marker in random spots. I also added both Gold Thread and Gold Cording Trim to stick with the Gold theme! And, oh those Gold Sequins... Wasn't a huge fan at first, but now I can't stop using sequins!!! They add just that "something needed"!

Usually I spend so much effort on the front of a card that I don't do anything for the inside. But, especially with a dark color card base like Blackberry Bliss, you have to do something on the inside. A little strip of the same Winter Wonderland Vellum on a Very Vanilla Cardstock piece neatly finishes it off! And, a little tip - To adhere the vellum, I cut the piece about 1/2" longer than the width of the cardstock piece. Then I 'glued' it down to the backside of the Vanilla cardstock with Mini Glue Dots. Then I glued to whole piece onto the inside of the card.

I think these little gift bags make a cute little coordinating match-up to give a little gift or treat! How about setting a few out on your Thanksgiving table?

I used a lot of the same details from the card. But also, I added the Winter Wonderland Washi Tape to go around the bag. And I used a small Gold Doily for a little more bling! The Wooden Elements "Celebrate" seemed to be a fitting sentiment to add to the bag too!

  

I altered the Kraft Gift Bag to make it a Stand Up styled bag too! I just scored it at 3/4" on each side and 1" along the bottom. Then I trimmed, folded up and adhered the bottom to give it that stand up style!

I think I will be making a bunch more of these for Thanksgiving! But also, I think I will use the Thanks Wooden Elements pieces to make some quick Thank you Bags too!

Hope you enjoyed my project, and come back soon to see more!

Up next on the Blog Hop is Kathy Kartak. Click HERE to check out her creation!


Julie B