Christmas Goody Bags

Last night my friend Deb and I made all her gift bags for her work people. Since she has such a stash of paper we used a lot of her papers adding my Stampin' Up Real Red to compliment the bags. In her bags were a coffee mug with some hot chocolate tins so the outside cello bag was filled with Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips and mini marshmallows and teeny tiny little peppermint pillows. Using the Top Note Sizzix die for the bag topper. I printed off all her work buddies names on to Confetti white cardstock in red using a font called "Santa's Big Secret". Then using the Curly Label punch we punched out the names for the cello bags. The top layers of the paper bags were edged with the scallop punch for a fun effect. The two special bags received some bling in the form of heat set pearls and rhinestones, using the Bejeweler heat setter. I get all my heat set stones and pearls from "Sue's Sparklers" in Escondido CA. The pretty snowflake blue bag used Stampin' Up DSP Ski Slope paper. Now to get my stuff done... All my friends stuff is done. I haven't even decorated the tree yet....Whoa am I behind.....

More of my busy work from last night!

More of my glue gun magic! These large plastic ornaments were purchased from Michaels. A few craft picks and ribbon and glue!

Viola!! Beautiful..... Originally I had bought a decorated ornament for $26.00 at the local holiday craft show (Sugar Plum Festival). Using that as my inspiration, I created these ornaments of my own for 1/4 of the price!
You can see my reflection in one of them as I took the picture. I think I will be selling some of these next year at craft boutiques. Ho Ho Ho of the Holidays!!

Decor Elements Christmas Shadow Box

I was busy last night! I had bought this shadow box over a month ago to use with this Santa Decor Element from Stampin' Up. Talk about last minute.....jeez! Glue gun in hand, ready to attack... Here is the final product. Using Stampin' Up' s Ski Slope DSP I covered the back with the pretty snowflake paper. I had purchased some craft picks at Michaels and cut them all up.

The Decor Element was looking kind of plain with all the glittery things inside so I outlined him with Stickles glitter glue. Putting a big red blorp of red for "Rudolph's" nose.
The Santa sleigh needed some definition so I outlined some packages in the back and put some Frost White Stickles on his hair, hat and cuffs. before shutting up the shadow box I dumped some glitter and flaky glitter inside to make it look snowy if you shake it up!

Shut everything up and added some string pearls to the outside of the box with Crystal Effects as the glue for the pearls.

I think it came out very nice...a little late but nice!! On Dasher...On Dasher....

You go Rudolph!!

Get Well card using Our Craft Lounge Stamps

I just fell in love with this little elephant when I saw him! I went to a Copic Marker make and take the other day. The stamp company is Our Craft Lounge. Personally I was not thrilled with the Copic Markers for the price that they command. I did purchase 2 sets; pastels and brights. I got better results with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol blending spirits. (Elephant colored with Prismacolors) For the money that Copic's cost per pen and having to buy 3 shades to get good blending...nope not for me. I can watercolor blend better then the Copics also. Wow me saying I don't like an expensive tool...wow something must be wrong with me. All the paper & ribbon supplies are Stampin' Up; Pacific Point, Whisper White and Bashful Blue. Also the dots are Dew Drops.

Doggie Die Cut

I really have been busy making things but cannot put them on the blog till later due to contracts and some being Christmas gifts (don't want to spoil the surprise)

This adorable little gal began her "life" as a black & white GIF image. Now look at her, Isn't she adorable!! I used Stampin' Up products to ink up the edges and bone. I used a Gelly Roll Glaze pen to color her collar then dipped it in glitter. Of course doggies have wet noses so I applied Crystal Effects on to the nose. Then using a white pen to put white fur on the chest and eyes (oops eyes were done after the photo)

I purchased a new software the other day that really simplified making die cuts for me. I normally design all my own die cuts from scratch or occasionally hand trace a photo to get exact details (Wacom 9 x 12 tablet). Then I manipulate the design so it does not look like the original to avoid copyright issues. I am not a crafter/artist that can draw from my head out of thin air like some, I have to have a model in front of me to draw. Well this new software is amazing on how well it vectorizes and image. Previously I was using a Pazzles SignMax WinPC 2007 version for my Pazzles Creative Pro machine. Now I just bought the SignMax Funtime Scrapbooking 2009 Deluxe version (Which is much like the Pazzles Inspiration software by SignMax). Wow what a difference; no more choppy lines, new fun special effects.... I do have to give credit to Ivan at SignMax in Canada for updating my driver to work with my Pazzles Pro. The image above was obtained from the Graphics Factory. Now having given them credit and linking to their site, I do believe I am following their copyright rules. This next picture is directly from the Funtime software after cleaning up the image and turning it into a paper piecing. You can click on the picture below and get the WPC version 14 file (I hope the link works, If not just email me) Happy Howlidays!! Woof Woof

Christmas fishes to all!

This little guy just caught the Christmas Spirit wave....When you go surfing here in California you occasionally have a few "finned" friends helping. The dolphin are known to "body surf" with the human surfers. This great Stampin' Up set called "Shellabrate" is really versatile and cute. Here I used a couple of stamps from Judith and Heather also; the little xmas light on the surfboard and the little snowflakes in the background,

The Pacific Blue combined with Bashful Blue background was embossed with a Cuttlebug snowflake folder. The wave was lightly watercolored with inks. You can not see the Stickles in this photo but the image is quite glittery. The envelope that is to be used is below.

The card below that is a very simple version that I am going to be helping a friend do for her Christmas cards. That prototype was colored with Prismacolors and Gamsol

Craft Show Set Up

Here are the pictures of my booth at my first "boutique". I have 4 fold up tables that are 4 ft each. The beige and red baskets that are standing up in the back left are fold up for easier set up and take down storage. I purchased them from Cost Plus and to make them stronger I can zip tie them together. I had a "Sock Monkey" holding a "Sock Monkey" card in his lap. The display board in the back is Velcro so I can change out cards quickly when I need to, I have a velcro dot on the back of a clear envelope so I don't ruin the card If I choose to send it out later. I made the display board myself from two cork board wall memo holders. Since it was my Upline that put this boutique together...There were not alot of customers to get interested and sign up. Oh Well. Any way it was fun and I sold some old stamps and a couple catalogs.

Top Note Santa Suit

This cute little Santa suit was made using the Sizzix Top Note die. I cut a strip of basic black for the belt and a strip of Presto Sticky Felt for the center. Using the Curly Label punch and the horizontal slot punch with brushed silver for the belt. I collect all kinds of brads and eyelets so I thought these cute little buttons were just perfect for the finishing touch.

Here is a close up detail of the buttons & felt and how it looks just perfectly furry for the center of the Santa Suit. Ho Ho Ho!