Snowman Gift Card Holder

I don't know why I don't do my Christmas cards, gift cards, hand made gifts, calendars, etc. earlier each year.  Instead I find myself trying to juggle it all to get everything done in time!  This week I have something going on almost every day - bridge on Monday, Stamp Club Tuesday and neighborhood Bunco Tuesday night, massage (yay!!) Wednesday, Southern Living Luncheon Thursday night and a trip to Concord Thursday night!  Whew!  I'll get it all done - I always do but I am wearing myself out!!  Not sure when I will be doing my Christmas shopping!!   Gift certificates sound good to me along with a little on-line shopping!!

I made this gift card holder a while ago and can't even remember how I made it.  I saw it on Pinterest and followed the trail for the directions.  But do you think I can find it now????  Nope!

It's easy to figure out though.  The snowman is punch art using Circle Punches for the snowman.  The gift card holder was made with the Envelope Punch Board.

We have been really surprised that Bogart (Ashley's cat) has left our Christmas tree alone!  He hasn't tried to climb up it once.  Guess he's more afraid of Sonny and I than Ashley!  She will be here in a couple of weeks.  We'll see if he minds her then.  We're entering our final few weeks with our visiting cat.  I know Sonny is really going to miss him although he sure won't admit it.

Fall Quarterly

I had a great ... and busy weekend.  Marianne came over Friday after work and we loaded our things into her car and headed to Newton for Quarterly.  We worked on 25 Shoebox Cards and actually got them all finished before midnight!!  Since Newton is only about a 30 minute drive for me, we went home and slept in our own beds (well, technically Marianne slept in my guest bed!) and got up the next morning to head back to Quarterly for more fun.  We did a Card Swap and a Gift Card Swap and got some great cards.

This is the Gift Card that I made using the MDS version of the coffee cup from Perfect Blend (I shared the card swap in a previous post HERE).

We also had a contest that was optional.  I decided to participate in all four challenges.  We were to make a 3D Ornament, a Christmas card, an "Any Occasion" card and an "oldie but goodie" using a favorite retired stamp.  I was happy when my Ornament below won 1st Prize!!  I used the stamp set and framelits from Bright and Beautiful.  There are two pieces of chipboard in between the front and back of the ornament.

Back of Ornament

Front of Ornament 

Christmas Card using Bright and Beautiful bundle

For the Christmas card above, I embossed the tags and the stars with Gold, Cherry Cobbler and White Embossing Powder.  I used a piece of DSP from the Newsprint and layered a piece of Vellum over the top to soften it.  All the stars are popped up with dimensionals.

Marianne's Christmas Card won 1st place!!

Marianne's card - Get Your Santa On from Holiday Catalog

My All Occasion card

 The card above was fun to make and a new technique that I stumbled across on Friday morning.  I adhered the Dots Decorative Mask (page 205 in catalog - a deal for $2.95!) with Repositional Tape on top of a piece of Crumb Cake card stock.  Next using a dauber, I sponged White Craft Ink over all the dots.  I removed the Dots Mask and cleaned it.  Next I replaced the Dots Mask on top again - just moving it to the side and up a little bit and (with a dauber) sponged Wisteria Wonder, Coastal Cabana, and Melon Mambo ink on top of the White Ink.  It makes a cool background!  The cupcake is from Cupcake Party stamp set and I used the Cupcake Punch.  I stamped the sentiment from Remembering Your Birthday on Vellum with White Ink and embossed it in white before adhering it to the card.

Blast from the Past - Oldie but Goodie

This set is one of my first Stampin' Up sets almost 10 years ago - Garden Collage.  I still love it!

Sunday night Sonny and I went to the Panther - Steeler game and had a great time!  I will share a few pictures of that tomorrow.

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.

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

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.

September Stamp Cub

This was Stamp Club week and my gals were dropping like flies!  I usually have 7-8 gals on Tuesday and on Thursday.  But Tuesday, I ended up with 6 after Marianne had to stay at work for a meeting and Thursday I ended up with 3!!  I had a couple of gals out sick, one out of town and one of my Thursday gals came on Tuesday instead and my Tuesday gal came on Thursday!  But the three that were here on Thursday really liked the intimate setting.  They said they didn't feel as rushed and were able to chat and visit while creating.  So, it all worked out.  We made some great cards I want to share with you.

 This is our Halloween card.  I used the Howlstooth ... DSP from the holiday mini.  I gave the gals the option of embossing the Apothecary Arts die with the Spider Web folder or stamping directly on the die piece without embossing.  I think everyone chose to emboss and thus had to stamp the boot (from Bootiful Occasions) out separately.  When they complained about cutting, I reminded them they had a choice!

 This was a fun card to make and is inspired by a card I saw on Pininterest.  It is a good way to use up those scraps of ribbon you have stuck in a jar somewhere.  We stamped the sentiment onto Certainly Celery first to make sure we had room for everything else.  It's hard to see from the picture, but we embossed all around the edges of the white piece with the Scorer.  The Little Leaves die is cut from the middle of the card.  I used some retired felt flowers with a pearl on top of the Baja Breeze ribbon.  The ribbon butterflies are gathered in the center with rhinestone brads (that I didn't realize had retired until today!!). 

 I think this card is my favorite.   I used the new Core'dinations cardstock from the Holiday Mini and sanded it so the white core would show.

Directions:

• ·       Round bottom corners of Cajun Craze card and Naturals Ivory cardstock
• ·        Sponge Espresso lightly around the edges of the Naturals Ivory and adhere it to card.
• ·        Stamp sentiment on bottom right of the Naturals Ivory.
• ·        Run the strip of Espresso Core’dinations (found in Holiday mini) through the Woodgrain embossing folder.
• ·        Use Sanding Block and lightly sand the Espresso strip.  Use the Tacky Cloth to wipe away dust particles.  Adhere to card.
• ·        Using Leaves #2 Sizzix Die  cut out 3 leaves.  Stamp leaves with text stamp from French Foliage set using Espresso ink.  Sponge edges; spritz with water and crumble up. Use glue to adhere to card.
• ·        Adhere choice of button to card.
• ·        If you decide to use a clear button (retired) like I did, punch a circle with the 1” Circle Punch and adhere with glue dot or a dot of glue to button.

This is a gift card holder that has an envelope inside for pockets.

Directions:

• ·      White cardstock – cut @ 8 ½” x 5 ½ ” / Score @ 2 ½” and 5 ¾”
• ·      Fold on score marks; the smaller flap will go on the inside.
• ·      Use a border punch and punch a border from Real Red cardstock; adhere to top flap
• ·      For the envelope insert, lick an envelope shut and fold it in half (side to side)
• ·      Cut about 1/3 of the envelope off (top of env. – not folded edge).  You want the envelope to fit inside the flap (where the reindeer is) and not stick up so cut the excess off.
• ·      Tape the envelope to itself so that you have 2 pockets.
• ·      Tape the envelope to the inside of the card so that it is secured to the bottom flap and the middle section   
•      Decorate
•         Crumb Cake Inserts – cut 4” x 2 ½”
•         White cardstock – cut 3 ¾” x 2 ¼” - layer on crumb cake insert
•         Punch a tab (Tab Punch) and adhere to top of each insert.
•      Make a belly band - cut cardstock about 7 1/2" x 1 1/2" and wrap around.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Sonny and I will be spending Christmas Day with each other.  Our family celebration will be on Sunday when my mom, sisters and brother and all their respective families will come to my house.

Please say a prayer for me that Skype is up and working tomorrow so we can visit with Ashley and other members of our family that are many miles away!

Here are the final things that I have made in the past few days - mostly holders for gift cards and money!!

 I did several of these little plastic Christmas jars with candy inside and a gift card hanging off.

 This holds a little hand sanitizer.

Open Hand Sanitizer

These little guys hold money inside their little packages.

Gift Card Holder

Gift Card Holder

Gift Card Holder

Gift Card Holder

Gift Card Holder

Gift Card Holder

I needed a gift card holder for a SU Gift Certificate.  My gift certificate is about 4" x 8" and fits in a business envelope.  So, I designed a holder that would fit in the business envelope.  I looked around on Splitcoast and got a few ideas and this is what I made:

 The "ribbon" on the top started out as a bow - I punched 3 ovals (with large oval) out of Real Red and 3 out of Baja Breeze cardtock.  Then using the negative part of the punch, I punched ovals using the extra-large oval punch.  But, they wouldn't fit in the envelope, so I had to trim it.  Oh well - it looks cute anyway.

So what do you think??