Something We All Need - A Gift Card Holder!

I have been on the go so much this week I don't know if I am coming or going!  I went to a Christmas party every day last week except for Wednesday.  Monday was bridge where I too a squash casserole, gift for our exchange as well as a little hand made goodie for all 17 people that were there; Tuesday was Bunco in our neighborhood - again I took a dish for dinner and a gift for the exchange.  Thursday was Southern Living - this time I made Ambrosia Macaroon Cookies and a gift for the exchange.  Friday it was Mahjong - again, a gift and I took sausage and biscuits for our brunch.  Saturday was a cold dreary day here and I was glad to spend it indoors working on my Christmas projects for the following week and my Christmas cards.  Today in between football games, we had our family Christmas.  Luckily, we gathered at Marianne's house.  I took my gifts for all the family and my requested potato casserole (a favorite of Marianne's boys); squash and zucchini and an apple pie.  Monday I go to my other bridge group and take my gift and a corn casserole.  Afterwards, I have an appointment for a massage ..... much needed!!  Tuesday I am getting my hair cut in the morning and then coming home to get ready for my Stamp Club Christmas gathering.  We are going to make gift cards on Tuesday plus I have some goodies for the gals.  So, please forgive me for not blogging much last week .... and possibly next week.  We will be leaving for Texas on Wednesday hoping to make it to San Antonio by Friday.  I am hoping I am going to find some time to pack!!  Plus, I need to pack for New Zealand since I will be leaving from San Antonio for New Zealand on the 28th.  I don't think I will have any trouble sleeping on that flight after the hectic weeks I've had.

My brother and sisters

My nephew, Derek and Mom (resting her eyes)

Niece and nephew (my brother's kids)

Marianne and Lee - my baby sister and baby brother!

My nephew, Harrison and Mom

I have been working on a few gift card holders.  These are something I think everyone could use this time of year.  This one is a super simple one.

I made the smallest envelope using the Envelope Punch Board in red card stock.  Then make a belly band with black card stock.  I used the Curly Label Punch for the silver glimmer paper and cut a rectangle out of black card stock for the center of the glimmer "buckle". 

Here's another easy gift card using the Bigz Bow Die to decorate it:

Gift Card Holder "present" open

gift card open - you can just barely see the brad on the left side I used to attach the top to the bottom.

Stamp Club Projects

These are the projects we made this week at Stamp Club.  The angels were a big hit using the Sizzix Bow Die.  I did a search on the internet and found several different versions and mine are a combo of several different ones.

This card uses the single stamp, "Be Merry" which is actually a tag.  I used a strip of DSP to cover up the "To/From".  We stamped the tag with white craft ink and then embossed it with white embossing powder.



This was one of my favorites.  I finally sucked it up and bought the Typeset Alphabet Sizzix Die.  I used cardboard that comes inside the DSP cut into 1 1/2" squares; then I stamped in Garden Green one of the stamps from Tape It.  I used the sticker tape from the Goody Goody set in between the green.  Next I die cut the "j" "o" and "y".  The ornament is from Mosaic Madness and "Christmas" is from the polymer stamp, Endless Wishes which unfortunately is sold out.

I just love these colors - Coastal Cabana, Pumpkin Pie and Brown Sugar.  I used the single stamp, Magnificant Maple and Gorgeous Grunge to make the background on the thinlit card.

Gift Cards

In this day and age, it seems like it is so easy to give gift cards to family and friends for birthdays and Christmas or any occasions.  That way the recipient can purchase what he or she wants.  I have thought in the past that gift cards were just too impersonal.  But the older I get, the better gift cards seem to me!  I like getting them and I like giving them.  I usually keep a list on my personal Amazon site of things I want, books I'd like to read, etc. so anyone who wanted to give me a gift could check out that site and either give me a gift card or find the item I have listed somewhere and buy it for me.  I try to keep it up to date.  I think that would be a good idea for everyone to make shopping easy.   But buying gift cards sure eliminates the hustle and bustle at Christmas time - fighting the crowds in the mall and resisting the temptation to buy something for yourself as well as for that special someone you are shopping for!!  Don't get me wrong - I enjoy shopping as well as the next person and it really gets me in a festive mood at Christmas time but there are some people that are just impossible to buy for because they seem to have everything they need or you don't see them enough to know what their likes and dislikes are - that is when gift cards come in handy.  So ..... I have made a few gift card holders to make those impersonal gift cards much more personal!

Using the Bow die and Square Sizzix Die

Gift Card open

Perfect Blend - perfect for that Starbucks gift card!

Uses Card Base Pop N Cuts



Pop N Cuts Gift Card - open

Festive Flurry Stamp and Framelit (Holiday Mini)

If you would like to make these gift cards, I will be doing a class for them at Hobby Lobby next Tuesday at 6 pm.  The price is $15 to make all three.  I will be supplying all the materials using Stampin' Up products - you just need to bring scissors and adhesive.  Contact me if you are interested!


ALSO - don't forget the new Weekly Deals starting today!

Weekly Deals!

A new round of weekly deals has started. Make sure you head on over to get great product at a discount!

	Adorning Accents Textured Embossing Folder Item # 125601 Regular Price: $8.95 US/$10.95 CAN Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$8.21 CAN
	Autumn Accents Die Item # 127812 Regular Price: $21.95 US/$26.95 CAN Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN
	Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain Ribbon Item # 132135 Regular Price: $8.95 US/$12.50 CAN Discounted Price: $6.71 US/$9.37 CAN
	Cupcake Punch Item # 121807 Regular Price: $16.95 US/$22.95 CAN Discounted Price: $12.71 US/$17.21 CAN
	Day in the Life Kit MDS Download Item # 128876 Regular Price: $14.95 US/$16.50 CAN Discounted Price: $8.97 US/$9.90 CAN
	Dress Form Pop N Cuts Item # 130100 Regular Price: $21.95 US/ $26.95 CAN Discounted Price: $16.46 US/$20.21 CAN
	Simply Created Goody Gear Pumpkin Pie Item # 132792 Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.95 CAN Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$5.21 CAN
	Rhinestones Large Item # 129324 Regular Price: $4.95 US/$6.50 CAN Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$4.87 CAN

Have a Holly Jolly!

I have been working on the cards for my Christmas Stamp a Stack which will be Saturday, Nov. 16.  This is one of the cards that did not make the cut.  I really like it though.

 

I used Real Red cardstock that is embossed with a Script embossing folder.  The tag is from the Chalk Talk dies and the "Holly Jolly" label is stamped from the Tags 4 You set and punched out.  I used a piece of Coredinations card stock in Early Espresso that I sanded to look distressed along with half of a doily that I sponged with a little Espresso ink so it would not be so stark white.  I love the Season of Style DSP made into a bow with the Biggz Die!!  Love that die!

 

 

 

Gorgeous Grunge Gift Card

If you like deals, check out the Clearance section.  New items were added today.  Just click on the clearance tab at the top of my blog to check them out.

I have a great little gift card for you to make and it's so easy!! 

I used the Sizzix Scallop Square die (retired) to cut 2 scalloped squares with Modern Medley DSP.  I used red liner tape around all the edges and taped them together.  On the top, I cut off a couple of inches and used a brad to attach the cut off piece to the other part of the scallop square making an opening to insert the gift card. 
Use the Bowz Die and make a bow (I used Polka Dot DSP).  Attach the bow to the front of the scallop (on the top part).  I cut a couple of flowers from the Flower Sizzix Die and stamped them with Gorgeous Grunge and made flowers and leaves to attach to the bow.

Stampin' Up has a contest where you could design the next stamp set for the company!   

• Participate in stamp set design challenges by drawing and submitting your original artwork
• Help choose new stamp sets by voting on submissions
• Post comments and interact with others in the community
• Earn badges for your activity in the community

SU will produce and sell one or more stamp sets from among the top-voted submissions in each challenge. Plus there are fabulous prizes for top designs. 

If this is something you are interested in, click here for more information.
So far, there have been 2 stamp sets designed in the "In With You" challenge.

SPREAD THE JOY

and the newest set - MONSTERMANIACS STAMP SET

I just love the saying in the Spread the Joy set and will be ordering it real soon.

Bowz

Shelli Gardner, the owner of Stampin' Up had an accident this week. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  Here is what her daughter wrote on her blog:

Hi, everyone, this is Sara, taking liberty with my mom's blog.

I just wanted you to know that yesterday my mom was involved in a riding accident in southern Utah; the horse she was riding stumbled. She was taken to the Kanab hospital where X-rays were taken, and she was diagnosed with a fractured wrist, pelvis, and collarbone. She flew by plane to Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where she will likely be for a few days.

Obviously, she is in a great deal of pain but wants you all to know she is fine and is grateful it wasn't worse. Thank you for your concern, well wishes, and prayers! I suspect she'll blog herself as soon a she feels up to it. . . .

 Ashley is leaving later today.  This week has just flown by!  I sure will miss her.  Saturday was a low key day.  We played with MDS working on designing our tee shirts for one of the theme nights on our cruise.  Later in the day, we went to the movies and saw The Millers.  It was really funny.  Ashley and I made Hatch Pepper Quesadillas for dinner - yum!  Sonny and I are heading to Greenville, SC after dropping Ashley off at the airport.  Some good friends of ours from Dallas are flying to Atlanta Sunday to see a sick friend.  They are going to drive up to Greenville, SC and we are going to meet them for a visit for a couple of days.

I've just ordered the Bowz Die from the Holiday Mini catalog.  It arrived on Thursday and I've been so busy I haven't been able to share my bows with you.  Maybe next week!!  I made a cute gift this weekend for one of my granddaughter's birthday and topped it with one of the bows.  It was so easy!!  Instead, I'm sharing a couple of bow ideas from convention.