10 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS WRAP IT UP COUNTDOWN, Winter Snow Jar Candle...

Today I have a cute, inexpensive gift idea to share with you -- a decorated jar candle!  I decided to go with a Winter theme rather than a Christmas theme.  That way it can be used for a much longer season.  I purchased an jar candle and removed the label.  Then I created a sleeve for the candle with My Digital Studio.  Basically I just added four layers of the stamp in four colors (Going Gray, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy and Marina Mist) and offset each just a bit, so that each color shows as a shadow.  Then I printed it out on vellum and adhered it to the jar.  Next time, I would probably just adhere the ends of the sleeve to the jar, so that the tape wouldn't show under the sleeve.  I added plenty of Jewels for a little bling.

I used the Snow Much Fun Stamp Set for the jar top.  I used the same technique with Dazzling Details that I used in my Shimmery Snowman Card.  I kept the design flat since it will be opened frequently.  Then I added a couple of snowflakes cut with the Northern Frost Die (with Jewels added, of course!) for the hang tag.  Hope you enjoy this fun project!

WINTER SNOW JAR CANDLE SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Snow Much Fun (W#122560 $27.95, C#122562 $19.95)
• Stamp Brush Sets (MDS) – Snow (#128881, $1.95)
• Card Stock – Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Vellum, Silver Glimmer Paper
• Ink – Basic Black Craft, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue & Pumpkin Pie Marker, Marina Mist Refill
• Ribbon – Very Vanilla 3/8" Taffeta, Marina Mist 1/4" Grosgrain  (#120929, $4.95), White Baker's Twine (colored Bashful Blue - #124262, $2.95)
• Accessories – Dazzling Details (#124117, $2.50), Basic Rhinestones Jewels Accents (#119246, $4.95)
• Punches – 2-1/2" Circle (#120906, $16.95), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle (#118874, $16.95), 1-3/4" Circle (#119850, $16.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Circles #2 Die (#114526, $15.95), Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die (#120901, $21.95)

11 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS WRAP IT UP COUNTDOWN, Christmas Hexagon Milk Carton Box Tutorial...

Today I have a cute box to show you!  It is perfect for wrapping that special little gift you want to give.  It is made with the Mini Milk Carton Die and was presented at Convention this past summer.  I love finding different uses for our dies!  This box is great because it gives you more room than the Milk Carton itself.  A FREE tutorial on the box is at the end of the post.

I kept the design for this one pretty simple with just a Rosette for decoration.  I threaded the Baker's Twine through a button and then tied Mini Jingle Bells to ends.

Here is another version.  I kept this one fairly simple as well.  I embossed the Milk Carton Die Cuts with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder AFTER crisply folding all the score lines.  Then I added panels of Frostwood Lodge DSP and an easy tag.

HEXAGON CHRISTMAS MILK CARTON BOX SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Grateful Greetings (#116511, $36.95)
• Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Garden Green, Frostwood Lodge DSP
• Ink – Cherry Cobbler Classic, Cherry Cobbler Marker
• Ribbon – Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine (#123125, $2.95)
• Accessories – Holly Berry Bouquet Buttons (#123636, $8.95), Mini Jingle Bells (#124116, $2.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Deck the Hall Buttons (retired - only $3.59 in my Clearance Rack)
• Punches – Lace Ribbon Border (#122362, $19.95), 3/4" Circle (#119873, $10.95), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle (#118873, $16.95), Large Tag (#119876, $15.95), Extra Large Tag (#119866, $16.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Mini Milk Carton Die (#117310, $22.95), Simply Scored Tool (#122334, $29.95)

HEXAGON MILK CARTON BOX DIRECTIONS:
1.  Cut out 2 Milk Carton Die Cuts.

2.  Cut off one end panel (NON-TAB) from each one of the Milk Carton Die Cuts as shown.

3.  Use Simply Scored Scoring Tool to score the tops of the unscored tops to match the scored one.  Sorry, I forgot to photograph this step.

4.  Fold all score lines and use a bone folder to make folds crisp.

5.  Apply Sticky Strip to the OUTSIDE/RIGHT SIDE side tab of each Die Cut (shown on left die cut).  Apply Sticky Strip to INSIDE/WRONG SIDE of the ends of all three bottom tabs of one die cut and two of the three bottom tabs on the other die cut (as shown in the right die cut pictured).

6.  Remove Sticky Strip liner of one side tab and use to adhere one Milk Carton to the underneath of the non-tab end panel of the other.

7.  Remove Sticky Strip liner of the other side tab and adhere to the underneath of the other non-tab end panel forming a tube as pictured.

8.  To form the bottom, remove the Sticky Strip from the bottom tab that will be OPPOSITE the bottom tab with no Sticky Strip.  Fold in the non-Sticky Strip tab first and then fold it's opposite tab down so that they line up as pictured.

9.  Remove the Sticky Strip from two opposite bottom tabs and fold one in and then the other, again lining them up with each other as pictured.

10.  Remove Sticky Strip from the last pair of bottom tabs and fold one in and then the other being sure to line them up with each other as pictured.

11.  Turn over.  Pinch together a peak of the top and using the 1/8" side of the Crop-a-Dile, punch a hole about half-way in from the outer edge.  Repeat in each peak all the way around.

12.  Beginning at your front panel, thread the Baker's Twine through each peak all the way around ending at the same panel you began in.

13.  Your top will look like this when done.  Tighten and tie a bow or slip on a button like my sample above.  Decorate as desired.

12 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS WRAP IT UP COUNTDOWN, Snowman Coffee Treat Holders...

What do you do when you totally forgot that you need 12 small gifts for your Bunco group the NEXT night?  Luckily, it was the Petite Pocket Die to the rescue!  Starbucks had a great sale on their Via Christmas Blend coffee packets on Thursday, so I bought a couple of boxes and decided to design a holder for them. 

Since some of our members are Jewish, etc., I wanted to stay holiday neutral.  I knew I wanted to use snowmen and the Snow Much Fun stamp set is one of my favorites!  I did some of the coffee holders in a blue version as well, but I forgot to photograph them before bringing them to my Bunco Friday night.  Oops!

I used the same coloring method with the Dazzling Diamonds that I did with my Shimmery Snowman Buddies card.  To add a little more bling, I even added some Dazzling Diamonds on the edge.  But there still wasn't enough bling!  So I cut two more flaps from Silver Glimmer Paper for the inside and outside of the flap.  Here is a shot of the back, so you can see it.  I opted to use a half velcro dot for the closure.

SNOWMAN HOLIDAY TREAT HOLDER SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Snow Much Fun (W#122560 $27.95, C#122562 $19.95), Pennant Parade (W#122740 $21.95, C#122742 $16.95)
• Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Silver Glimmer Paper
• Ink – Stazon Black, Basic Gray Classic, Lucky Limeade & Pumpkin Pie Marker, Cherry Cobbler Refill
• Ribbon – Cherry Cobbler 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (#125056, $9.95), Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine (#123125, $2.95)
• Accessories – Holly Berry Bouquet Buttons (#123636, $8.95), Dazzling Details (#124117, $2.50), Crystal Effects (#101055, $6.25), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Velcro Dot
• Punches – Jewelry Tag (#117190, $10.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Petite Pocket Die (#123131, $42.95), Snow Burst Embossing Folder (#124096, $7.95), Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die (#120901, $21.95), Aquapainter

STAMPIN' UP!'S CEO SHELLI GARDNER'S APPEARANCE ON TODAY SHOW...

Did you miss Stampin' Up!'s co-founder/CEO Shelli Gardner's appearance on NBC's TODAY Show?  This was Shelli's third appearance on the TODAY Show in recognition of Stampin' Up!'s participation with the Direct Selling Association (DSA) in the annual TODAY Show Holiday Toy Drive. 

Here is a video clip of Shelli's appearance.  It was only a few moments, but I know you will want to see Shelli.  She is just so adorable and such a genuine, positive person!  Sorry about the commercial.  It's an NBC clip, so I have no control over that.  If you are viewing this post via email, please CLICK HERE to view the post with the video clip.

Since 2005, Stampin' Up! has been honored once again to give back during this holiday tradition and participate in the TODAY Show's Holiday Toy Drive. This year, Stampin' Up! will be donating over $500,000 worth of stamping and paper crafting products to the following organizations:

• Action for Boston Community Development Inc.
• Alliance for Children's Rights
• Boys & Girls Clubs Harford County
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
• Community Partners of Dallas - Rainbow Room
• Diocese of Saint Augustine
• Friendship Project
• Help USA
• Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN)
• Kids In Need Foundation
• National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section - The Dignity Project
• Operation Homefront
• Puerto Rican Family Institute
• St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital
• Stephen Siller Foundation/Katrina Fund
• Welcome House
• Youthbuild USA

STAMPIN' UP! HOLIDAY ORDERING DEADLINES...

Stampin' Up! recommends you place your holiday orders by Wednesday, December 14, 2011, by 11:50 PM MT to receive your orders before Christmas.  Delivery times will vary depending on where you live.  If your personal experience indicates that it takes longer for packages to reach you, you will want to allow a little extra time for shipping during the holidays. Call or email me your orders until 10:00 PM (ET) or place your orders on my Online Store.

All orders received by December 14, 2011, will be picked, packaged, and delivered to our courier in plenty of time to arrive by December 24, 2011.  However, we cannot control delivery times; holiday mail volumes are high, and our delivery services encourage you to ship as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

REMINDER:   Don’t forget to tune in or record the TODAY Show (NBC) tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 6.  Shelli Gardner’s will appearance during the fourth hour (check local listings for times).  She’ll be talking about Stampin’ Up!’s annual participation in the show’s Holiday Toy Drive.

TERESA JACKSON...

Sorry to post this, but I'm trying to reach Teresa Jackson.  I have been trying to send you your files, but all my emails to you are being returned by your provider saying that I have been marked as spam.  I am receiving your emails, but I have been trying for several days now to respond to all your emails with no success.  I even tried using my alternate YourStampTeacher@gmail.com address and I have received no reponse from you from that address, so I assume that one is not reaching you either although they have not been returned.

For anyone having difficulty in reaching me, if you do not receive a timely response from me, first check your spam folder.  If there is nothing there, be sure to add my email address to your address book or "safe list".  Just emailing me does not automatically do so.  If you still do not get a response, please call me at 757-463-2714.  Email is a wonderful thing when it works, but sometimes it does not.  I find real emails in my spam folders at times and other times, they just never arrive.  :(

FANCY FOLD FRIDAY, Come Let Us Adore Him Joy Fold Card...

For today's Christmas card, I wanted to use a religious theme, so I used the Come to Bethlehem stamp set on the front and The Sounding Joy set inside.  And Concord Crush and Brushed Gold seemed like the perfect "royal" combo for the theme.

 

The Joy Fold card is one of the simplest Fancy Folds and one of my favorites.  It is basically a mini card folded inside a larger card. The larger piece is cut to 4-1/4" x 8-1/2" and scored at 5-1/2".  The mini card is cut to 3" x 8" and scored at 4".  You simply adhere the back of your mini card to the back inside of the larger card as shown in the inside picture above.

I used Shimmer Mist on the Mini Card and let it dry before embossing it. I have posted the recipe for the Shimmer Mist before, but have included it again at the end of the post.  I embossed the back wall of the main card and the gold layer with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder.  Yes, I know it has been my go-to embossing folder for Christmas cards this year, but it's a new toy... and it's so pretty!  :)

The inside star image is stamped in Concord Crush, but I stamped off once before stamping it on the card.  Then just emboss all your other images with VersaMark and Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder.  Oh, and I needed a little more bling, of course, so I added a Rhinestone Jewel to the star.  Who couldn't use more bling?

Here is an alternate version I made when I was trying to decide between making it in silver or gold.  Which one do you like better?

COME LET US ADORE HIM SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Come to Bethlehem (W#118732 $19.95, C#120591 $14.95), The Sounding Joy (W#121967 $24.95, C#121979 $18.95)
• Card Stock – Concord Crush, Whisper White, Brushed Gold
• Ink – Concord Crush Classic, VersaMark
• Accessories – Basic Rhinestones Jewels (#119246, $4.95), Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109129, $4.75), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (#116806, $5.95)
• Tools – Heat Tool, Big Shot, Snow Burst Embossing Folder (#124096, $7.95)

SHIMMER MIST RECIPE:

1. Take a Mini-Mister (sold in packs of three at craft stores).  Remove spray head and straw of mini mister and set aside.
2. Fill the Mini Mister with 70% rubbing alcohol to 1/4” below the screw-threads of the bottle.
3. SHAKE Shimmer Paint vigorously until it is WELL mixed.
4. Carefully remove the lid of the shimmer paint and pour a bit of it into the mini mister.  Not too much, I would say about 1/8 tsp.  If you desire more shimmer, you can always add more.
5. Insert spray nozzle into the Mini Mister, make sure it is on tightly with the cap.
6. Replace lid on shimmer paint, and set aside
7. Shake the filled mini mister vigorously to ensure it is well mixed.
8. Place your cardstock in a Color Catcher and spray with the mist.
9. The paper will curl up, but will relax and flatten when dry.  It if is still warped, just put it under a heavy book for a while.
10. Store the mini mister in a vertical position.
11. The paint will settle/separate from the rubbing alcohol after a while, so be sure to shake well before using again.