69 days and counting until Christmas!!!

I don't know if you all have your Christmas plans set already but we just finalized ours! We will be celebrating Christmas is Cabo San Lucas!!! I can't tell you how excited I am....
Because we have family spread all over we always tend to rotate the holidays. Well this year we decided that we are taking a family vacation. It was a toss-up between Lake Tahoe and Mexico. In the end Mexico won out because my husband and daughter do not ski or snowboard so really only my son and I benefited from Tahoe. I can't wait to start more planning!
Because we will be traveling gifts will be light and small in size, our family gift is this trip. The project I have to show you today is a great way to give a gift certificates which is what I planning on putting in my husband and children's stockings.

Stamp Set		Page
122650	Delightful Dozen	167
Paper/Ink
122349	Letters to Santa DSP	186
119686	Early Espresso Card Stock	180
119670	Early Espresso Classic Ink Pad	180
111348	Riding Hood Red Card Stock	179
100730	Whisper White Card Stock	180
100702	Old Olive Card Stock	177
121790	Glimmer Paper – Red (mini)	41
124005	Glimmer Paper – Silver (mini)	41
Punches
124095	Stocking Builder Punch (mini)	34
Other
123131	Petite Pocket (Big Shot Die)	221
117335	Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder	219
124142	½” Scallop Dots Ribbon (Choc Chip)	195
123124	Baker’s Twine or Linen Thread (104199)	194
124116	Jingle Bells (mini)	30
101610	Stamping Sponges	203
104430	Stampin’ Dimensionals	206
103683	Mini Glue Dots	206
102300	Bone Folder	207
101055	Crystal Effects (optional)	206

Card Instructions 

1.  Fold Early Espresso Card Stock (5½” x 8½”) in half with the fold at the side.

2.  Emboss Riding Hood Red Card Stock (4” x 5¼”) with Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder using the Big Shot.  Sponge with Early Espresso ink, if desired.  Attach to card front.

3.  Sponge Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper (DSP) (4” x 2”) with Early Espresso ink, if desired.  Attach to card front at the bottom.

4.  Cut Old Olive Card Stock (4¼” X 11”) with the Petite Pocket Die using the Big Shot.  Fold on score lines with bone folder.  Adhere edges to create Pocket Envelope. 
Adhere Letters to Santa DSP (1¾” x 2 3/16” - small brown polka dot) to Riding Hood Red Card Stock (2” x 2 3/16”). Adhere to Pocket Envelope near bottom. 
Gently tie flap with Scallop Dots Ribbon (to enable sliding the ribbon when adding/removing the gift card). 

      Punch stocking pieces from Red and Silver Glimmer Paper.  Assemble using Glue Dots.  Punch small hole in stocking and thread with Baker’s Twine or Linen Thread.  Tie bow around ribbon.  Attach jingle bells to bow ends.
Note: A little Crystal Effects on the ends of the Baker’s Twine makes it easier to thread the jingle bell.

5.  Using Stampin’ Dimensionals, adhere Pocket Envelope to Card Front. 
Note:  if you want to slide the ribbon off, attach Dimensionals below the ribbon.  If you want to slide the ribbon down, attach Dimensionals above the ribbon, at the top) 

6.    Stamp greeting from Delightful Dozen on Whisper White Card Stock (4” x 5¼”).  Attach to inside of card.

I hope you love this card as much as I do. If you are interested in attending my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack you will make great cards just like this one!

Christmas in September!

We are hosting our annual Stamp Camp in October and I wanted to come up with some fun crafts that we can display. Sometimes we get so focused on Holiday cards that we forget to add some fun. So yes I know it is only September but I couldn't resist using this fun stamp set! This technique is so impressive but so easy!

Supplies Needed:

111648 Holiday Line up Stamp Set 

10140 Jet Balck StazOn Ink Pad

119702 Brights Stampin Write Markers

124325 Bashful Blue 5/8" Satin Ribbon

124104 Early Espresso 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon

100005 Heat Embossing Gun

White Tissue Paper

Wax Paper

Candles

Instructions:
1)      Stamp your image using Black Stazon Ink onto Tissue Paper
2)      Color in the image using Stampin Write Makers.
3)      Cut the image out of the tissue paper
4)      Lay the stamped image onto the candle
5)      Cut out a piece of wax paper longer then the candle
6)      Wrap the Wax paper around the candle, use the extra as a "handle"
7)      Heat emboss the image onto the candle. Make sure you don't hold the embossing gun in one place to long otherwise you melt the candle to much. You want to just melt the a small amount to cover the tissue paper.
8)      Cut your ribbon and tie around the bottom

That's it! How great is it to give a gift that looks like you spent a ton of time on, but you really didn't!
As a special bonus, I will be giving away a set of these to every hostess during the month of October. So call today and schedule your show!

Don't forget to register for Stamp Camp. The link is to the left of this post. Seats are first come first serve so reserve now to guarantee your spot.

Happy Creating!!!
~Melissa