CHRISTMAS DAY LAYOUT

 

Well I met my goal for the end of the year.  I finished scrapbooking all of my Christmas pictures for 2010.  As you can see, Santa paid us a special visit and stayed for breakfast. 

Opening gifts on Christmas morning is always so exciting and chaotic.  Watching my granddaughters gleaming with joy is even more magical.

 Supplies used on this layout:

DCWV Christmas Combo stack

Embellishment Kit by Studio Decor

Christmas/Noel Cricut cartridge

Joyful Chip Shapes by KI Memories

Stampin' Up Scallop Trim Corner Punch

As we come to the end of this year, I want to  thank you for sharing your precious time with me.  Most days, I post during the morning hours and I have a cup of coffee by my side.  It's like I am sharing a cup with you my special internet friends.  I hope you will continue to stop by in "2011." 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Thoughts of Encouragement

If we have no relationship with God and are spiritually weak, nothing seems to work right in our lives.

Scripture says that God is the potter and we are the clay.  Clay works best when it is pliable and mold able.  But if we are hard, crusty and set in our ways, God will have to pound away on that old, hard clay to get out all the lumps.

Thank God today for having Him in your life. 
 

TOP NOTE NUGGET HOLDER

 Here's another great project that can be made with Stampin' Up's Top Note die cut.  Valentine's day will be here before we know it so let's get started.

 You will need to cut two Top Notes.  One with red card stock (CS) and another with designer paper (DSP).  Be sure to cut around the edges of the DSP paper so that it is smaller than the red CS.  Target has some very cute valentine collections of printed sheets for only a dollar and that is what I used for the nugget holders.

In addition, you will need to cut three strips of DSP at 1" x 3" to wrap around the nuggets.  A piece of white CS at 3" x 3-1/4" and  one strip of white CS at 1/2" x 10-1/2" for the belly band.

Glue the DSP to the red CS.  Turn this piece around and place it on your cutter to score it.  There is stitching on the Top Note and you need to count three stitches from the center and align it to the cutting edge.   Then with the bone score down.  Turn the piece up and do the same on the opposite side.  This will give you a 1/2" fold (see below).

 

This is what it should look like.  After you have scored the Top Note, crease both sides well.

Take the 3" x 3-1/4" white CS piece and corner punch the edges.

 Glue this piece to the inside of the Top Note in the center.

Then score and crease both pieces together.  It should look like this.

Wrap the nuggets with the 1" x 3" DSP and then glue them to the bottom of the Top Note so that they stay in place.

Wrap the belly band around the Top Note and glue edges together. Do not wrap it too tightly.  You should be able to slide it off easily.

I (Heart) Hearts stamp set  (#118571)

With one of the hearts from this stamp set I stamped it with Real Red ink on white CS and then punched it out with the Full Heart punch (#119883).

I punched an extra heart with red CS and mounted both together on the belly band.  

These will make great Valentine treats for friends and family, but you can create these treats for any occasion, like Easter, Halloween, Christmas, birthdays, etc. 

If you have any questions, please email me or leave me a comment.  Enjoy your day!

Thoughts of Encouragement

Salvation is more than a one time prayer.  It is constantly cooperating with God, dealing with the issues He brings up, keeping a good attitude and allowing Him to change us.

TOP NOTE GIFT TAGS

Don't throw away those Christmas cards that you received this year.  They make beautiful gift tags.  Here's a neat tip that you might want to use.

 

Just cut off the front of your cards.  Then place the Christmas card on the Top Note die and cut out a scene from the front of the card with the Big Shot.

If there is writing on the back of the front of the card, then cut a matching Top Note card stock (CS) piece to cover it up.

Score the Top Note scene that has been cut from the card at about an inch.

Use sticky tape to attach it to a plain-colored piece of CS also cut out of the Top Note.  Use a 1/8" circle punch, cut some ribbon, cord or twine and tie the tag onto the bag.  Super quick, easy, beautiful tags and its good for the environment.  Let's all recycle our Christmas cards and save those tags for next Christmas!

Thanks for visiting my blog. I started my blog four months ago on August 31, 2010,  and never thought I would be so excited about blogging.  It has truly motivated me in so many ways.  I use my blog as a journal to document what I love to do and love to share with you.  I also see it as a legacy that I am leaving for my children.

Thoughts of Encouragement

When tempted to become discouraged, recognize that the root cause can be traced to having an ungrateful heart.  Find reasons to thank God today--there's no limit to what God will do in your life.

CHRISTMAS JOY!

 

Every year Jennifer Pereda opens her home to host a Christmas party for the Las Vegas Stampers.  This year was so enjoyable and lots of fun.  It truly was a "JOY" to celebrate the Christmas season with friends.  For this layout I cut out the word "Joy" from the Wild Card Cricut cartridge on red glitter card stock (CS) at 4-1/2 inches.  I used one sheet of designer paper from the DCWV Christmas combo stack which had the tree already imprinted.  To the tree I added glitter brads and to the gifts I added buttons. 

 "Christmas" was cut from the Christmas/Noel cartridge at 1-1/4" with the shadow key.  The numbers for "2010" were cut from the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge on green CS at 1-1/4".  The holly was one I had left over from yesterday's post.

Red CS was used to cut the picture frames, two at 5" and one at 4" from the Cindy Loo Cricut cartridge.  Then I ran them through the Big Shot and the Petals-A-Plenty  embossing folder, which has become one of my favorites.  I added green Stickles everywhere to give my layout that special Bling effect.

I am almost finished with all my holiday pictures.  All I need now is the very day of Christmas pictures which I need to get developed.  I will make it a goal to scrapbook them before the end of the year.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you make one of your New Year's resolutions to take more time to "scrapbook."   

Thoughts of Encouragement

We were put on this earth to spread God's love, and nothing could be more valuable than that.  How will you spread God's love today?

WINTER WONDERLAND

 

Christmas is gone, but the memories will last a life time.  One of those memories will be our visit to the Atrium at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. 

 

It was truly a Winter Wonderland at the Atrium with the most beautiful decorations.  I used the Winter Woodland and Christmas Noel Cricut cartridges for my layout.  The title can be found on page 66 of Winter Wonderland, cut at 2" on Real Red card stock (CS).

 

The reindeer is cut from Christmas Noel at 5" on brown CS.  I used a holly to decorate his neck.

Everything was mounted on 12" x 12" designer paper from the DCWV Christmas combo stack.  I used Flip Flaps by Close to My Heart to add more pictures to my layout.

The rocking horse was cut from Christmas Noel at 3-1/2" on red CS.  You can't see it clearly, but there's Stickles on the bottom rockers and the word "wonderland. "

 I cut the holly from Winter Woodland on page 41 at 1" on green CS and then embossed them with the Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder (EF) by Stampin' Up.  Also added red Stickles to the holly.  Then I used them as photo corners for my pictures. 

 

The poinsettias from Winter Woodland on page 40 were cut at two different sizes, 1" and 2" and then I also embossed them with the Petals-A-Plenty EF.  Added red Stickles to the yellow center.  The green leaves were embossed with the Swiss Dots EF. 

The Flip Flaps are a great way to add lots of pictures to your layout and they are glued to the outside of the 12 x 12 page protectors.  A red velvet ribbon was tied around the top picture. 

I was able to use a total of 16 pictures on this layout.  I hope you will be motivated to scrapbook your holiday memories.  I am challenging myself to finish 0ne more layout by the end of the week.  Enjoy the last week of 2010 and stay safe. 

Thoughts of Encouragement

Bad habits are easy to develop but difficult to live with.    For instance, it's easy to be rude and say mean things to others, but difficult to live in a home filled with strife and tension.  It's easy to spend money that we don't have and charge everything, but it's hard to live with the pressure of not being able to pay our bills.  It's easy to give into temptation and do whatever we feel.  It's difficult to live in bondage, feeling guilty and condemned. 

To change a bad habit, simply quit feeding the habit. You have to starve your bad habits and start nourishing your good habits. 

A Visit With Santa

Thursday turned out to be a super busy day and I was unable to post my Christmas layout earlier.  But here it is.  I challenged myself to do a scrapbook layout and I'm super happy that I finished it.  Usually I will make a layout, but fail to put pictures.  This time I added my pictures.  Can I get an applause, please?

My granddaughters Angie and Natie visited Santa last weekend and it was magical to see them sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. 

I used sheets from the Christmas Combo stack by DCWV for the background and I cut two 2" x 12" strips for the left edge and bottom edge.

The tree and other images are die cut stickers by Reminisce.  I added tons of glitter and shiny brads to the tree as ornaments. 

The letter to Santa is also part of the paper from the DCWV stack.  This value pack comes with 180 sheets.  I bought it at Joann's for 50% off. 

Used the photo corner punch (#119878) by Stampin' Up for the picture edges and then I ran them through the Big Shot and embossed them with the Petals A Plenty embossing folder (#116824).  I loved the effect it made on the photo corners.

 

Cut the letters for "A Visit With Santa" with the Winter Woodland cartridge by Provo Craft at 1-1/2" using both the font key and the font shadow key.  Decorated the letters with Stickles.

Now I challenge you to start scrapbooking all those pictures you take during the holidays.  Let me know if you're motivated to accept my challenge.

Thoughts of Encouragement

Take a stand today and stay on the course the Lord has set for you--take a stand in your prayer life--take a stand in your Bible-study time--take a stand in your acts of service and giving to others.  You'll be amazed at what God will do in your life when you take a stand and hold on to the promises found in His Word.

My Gingerbread Man

My granddaughters and I were going to bake some gingerbread cookies yesterday, but too many things got in the way. Later in the evening I still had the gingerbread cookies on my mind.

Anyways, while cleaning up my craft room I came across the Winter Frolic cartridge by Provo Craft that I bought a month ago and had not even opened it.  I started looking at the images and decided to cut out a gingerbread man on my Cricut machine.

Eventually, I ended up cutting five gingerbread men at 5-inches and they looked so cute.  I really had no idea what I was going to create with them and I'm still undecided exactly how to use them.

I started to assemble them by adding wiggly eyes, coloring their cheeks and nose with red chalk, and tying a red ribbon around their necks.  Also, punched out white dots for the buttons.

I

I had some leftover mini candy canes, so I placed one on each gingerbread man with mini glue dots.  So now I have five cute little men and I don't know what to do with them.  Maybe I could use them as gift tags or ornaments for the tree.  What do you think?

If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  Thanks for visiting.

Thoughts of Encouragement

Wake up each morning knowing where you're headed, which direction you're taking and what you are going to accomplish--and then stick with it.  Don't allow the distractions and busyness of life get you off course. 

Let's Have a Mug of Hot Cocoa!

Its been raining and very cold here in Vegas. I thought it would be great to share a warm mug of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon or cocoa powder.  Let's not forget to plop in a sweet peppermint candy cane.  Sounds good, but my mug of cocoa is a card.

 

I discovered that by using the same cut as I shared yesterday for the purse gift card holders I could form a mug.   I used half of an 8-1/2" x 11" piece of white card stock (CS) cut lengthwise and folded in half.  You will also need some designer paper cut at 4-1/4" x 5-1/2". 

Used a scrap to cut a small piece of brown CS  at 1-1/2" x 4-1/14" and I sponged it with brown ink.  This will be the top of the mug.

Deck the Halls DSP (#120810)

Cut the DSP and the white CS separately. With the white CS opening facing down, place it on your cutter and cut at an angle with the top edge right on the cutting line.  Then do the same with the DSP. 

Punch out a small oval with a scrap of red CS.  Then with the large oval punch align it so that you punch an oval that is larger on one side so that it will look like the handle of the cup.

Glue the red punched oval to the white CS at the edge and then layer the DSP over it.

For the peppermint and the whipped cream I used a scrap of white CS. I punched the small oval first and then with the large scallop punch another oval that is larger on one side so that it will look like the peppermint stick.

Formed the shape of the peppermint and added Stickles to make it look yummy.  Glue this to the top edge of the cup.  With an extra punched white large oval and some scissors form the whipped cream and glue it to the top also.  I added white puffy paint to make it look like its foaming. 

5/8" Victoria Ribbon (#118481)

Glue the 1-1/2" x 4-1/4" brown CS over the peppermint and whipped cream.  Then I added some lace ribbon to the top edge of the mug.  I also put DSP on the back of the card.

Tags til Christmas (121169) and Decorative Label punch (#120907)

Stamped "Dec. 25" with red ink on a scrap of white CS and punched it out with the Decorative Label punch.  Tied gold cord on the tag and added a dimensional to the back to keep it in place. 

 

You can get creative and make a 3" x 3-1/2" pocket inside for a gift card.  You don't have to, I'm just saying you can if you want.  You can't see it, but I stamped "Happy Holidays" in red ink.

I used the corner round punch on the bottom edges of my cocoa mug.  Hope my instructions make sense.  Some day I want to be able to create videos, but for now please bear with all the pictures and written instructions.

Stay warm and come back soon.