Christmas Layout

I love to preserve our Christmas memories in our scrapbooks. This layout came together so quickly, which is a must in this busy season. 

Two patterned bags provide not just a fun background, but a convenient spot to slip in extra photos and my daughter's letter to Santa. 

Lots of layering of SRM's clear holiday stickers bring this layout to life.

For this project I used:

Patterned Bags | Stickers By the Doze, Take 2 Christmas | We've Got Your Stickers Plus Christmas Tree | Stickers By the Dozen Christmas | Sticker Sentiments Happy Holidays | We've Got Your Sticker Merry | We've Got Your Border Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you the very merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years!

May you enjoy the warmth, peace, and joy of our Savior's coming.

Easy Christmas Countdown

Are you ready for December?  It's right around the corner so I'm sharing a couple of quick and fun projects to help you count down the days until Christmas.  Scrapdoodles has a great selection of Christmas papers and I wanted to highlight one of my favorites - Echo Park's Reflections Christmas. There are so many beautiful and versatile pieces in this collection - I love the vintage images, traditional colors, and variety of patterns.  Some of the sheets include border strips and project life style cards. Check out the collection here online and then stop by Scrapdoodles to see them in person and pick out all of your favorites.  One of my favorite sheets is the North Pole map paper.  I used it as the background for a "Tracking Santa" layout.  Did you know that NORAD begins counting down and tracking Santa on December 1st?  Check out their website HERE and add it to your family countdown activities.  All you'll need to do is snap your photo of the kids at the computer and add it to your layout with your journaling.





The second project I am sharing is a simple countdown made from a 5x7 inch frame.  To make this project, layer 3 rectangles of Echo Park Reflections Christmas papers: red base layer cut to 5x7,  then green layer cut to 4x6, and on top of that a patterned piece cut to 3 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches.  Toward the bottom of this piece layer several stickers, including letter stickers "days 'til".  Put this inside the frame.  Outside the frame I added the large Christmas tag sticker with twine.  To hold the countdown cards, attach a clothespin (dyed red and glittered) to the outside of the frame at the top.  I used foam dots to support it over the glass and hot glue to secure it to the frame. Once the frame is done, you can set it aside and work on your countdown cards.

One of the collection sheets includes a set of numbers 1-24.  I cut them apart and used these numbers on each of my cards.  I cut apart the Echo Park 3x4 cards from the large sheets and added more 3x4 cards cut from various papers to total 24.  Then I used additional stickers and papers from the collection as well as additional items from my Christmas stash to embellish each card.  Each card is different and fun!  Now I can display the frame and put up a new card each day as we countdown to Christmas!

Cricut: Christmas Village Online Class now Open!

http://www.mycreativeclassroom.com/course/info.php?id=709

Course Description: In this course, we’ll take an in depth look at Cricut’s Christmas Village Seasonal Cartridge and create a variety of projects for all crafting levels. This cartridge contains 50 silhouette-style images with simple and old-fashioned appeal. Many of the images are intended to create 3-D projects, but a lack of included instructions has stumped many Cricut crafters. Has this cartridge been sitting in your stash for awhile because you just don’t know what to do with it? If you’ve been feeling the same way, go get that cartridge out of the cupboard, and come on into this classroom, because we are about to create some awesome projects! Join me for this 4-week class and we’ll clear up any confusion about this cartridge and create several unique projects including a Christmas countdown village display with treat boxes (yes, this cart can do that!), a framed nativity project, cards, a layout, and more seasonal and alternative project ideas.I’ll offer assembly, longevity, and storage tips so that your creations last more than one season. *NOTE: This course has an advanced skill level. Students should come to class already familiar with their Cricut machine. Specific images and cut sizing will be shared. Knowledge of how to use a Gypsy and/or Cricut Craft Room is beneficial, but not a prerequisite for this course. If you do not already own this cartridge, it is available for purchase at local and online retailers and is also available for digital download into your Cricut Craft Room. 

Class Outline 

Week 1: We’ll begin with a cartridge overview and get right into one of the more time-consuming projects: the 3-D village with treat boxes. 

Week 2: We’ll continue with our village display and accessorize it with people figures and a stand-alone ice skating rink display. 

Week 3: An appealing feature in this cartridge is the nativity display.This week we’ll create two projects using nativity cuts – a framed piece (a great gift or home décor item) and a small-scale shadow box project. 

Week 4: In our last week, we’ll see what else this cartridge has to offer. Projects will include cards, a layout, and one more silhouette project – this time with vinyl.

Register now for all the fun - multiple projects with detailed step-by-step tutorials in full color, Cricut cut files, tips and helpful hints, student forum and gallery, and an enthusiastic and helpful teacher :).

Christmas Neighbor Gift Ideas and We R Memory Keepers

What a super exciting day when a box of goodies arrived on my doorstep from We R Memory Keepers!  They sent me a generous assortment of papers, chipboard, die cuts and even stamps from their lovely Christmas collection, "Yuletide."  I put together 3 different neighbor gift ideas to share - a recovered cd case (to gift favorite Christmas tunes), a simple tea or hot chocolate holder, and a sweet paper stocking for a few little goodies.

Clear CD cases are easy to find.  You can create a fun mix of holiday tunes (follow all copyright laws, please!) or share photos on a cd as your gift.  To decorate my cd case, I used a variety of papers from the 6x6 paper pad and a layered on a few of the coordinating die cut elements.  My deer is cut with my Cricut (Theresa Collins Demcember 25th cartridge).  I also added one of the chipboard sentiments to the outside of each case.

For my second gift idea, I filled small 3x5 baggies with loose tea and cut a strip of We R paper to 3 1/4 x12 inches and folded it over/around the bag.  I secured it all together using one of the fabric covered coordinating brads (these are really lovely!) and some decorative red/white twine.  I also hung a die cut that could double as a gift tag.  These would be easy to make several of and have on hand for "unexpected" guests and friends, or to give as favors at your holiday party.

For my final project, I cut a stocking pattern with my Cricut (Teresa Collins December 25th cartridge) and coordinating patterns from the Yuletide collection.  I cut two stockings, flipping one image, and then sewed up the sides using my sewing machine.  I added some trims and a stamp or two (CUTE gingerbread stamp from We R!) before filling it with a few sweet treats.  These could be made any size (mine are only about 6-7 inches long) depending on what kinds of treats you want to fill them with.  I think they would also be cute at any holiday table setting - maybe an adorable utensil holder for each place.

Thanks again to We R Memory Keepers for inviting me to be a guest designer and sending me such a generous assortment of products from your Yuletide collection!  And thanks to all of you for visiting me here on my humble little blog.  I hope you've been inspired.

Blessings,

Karen

Stashing Through the Snow...Ornament and Card

 

My niece loves mustaches and I had the joy of drawing her name for our family Christmas gift exchange.  I've been seeing these fun ornament ideas on Pinterest, so I knew I wanted to make her a cute mustache one.  It was super easy!  I started with a plain white porcelain ball (on sale, no less!).  I penciled out my mustache and then went over it with a black sharpie.  I added the phrase "stashing through the snow".  I messed up the first time and used a q-tip dipped in alcohol to wipe it off and start over again.  I also stuck it in my oven for about 20 minutes or so at 350 to make it more permanent.  As an afterthought (and after it was out of the oven and cooled), I added some fine glitter to the bottom of the mustache. 

I made a quick card with the same theme.  I cut the mustache (Cricut - Billionaire) and added a few sticker embellishments from Echo Park, a brad from Teresa Collins, and a twine ribbon.  And that

was it.  I hope your Christmas is merry and lots of fun!

Merry Christmas Banner

New this week at Scrapdoodles is the new Christmas line from October Afternoon, "Make It Merry."  Oh My Goodness, go check it out!  This line is so fun and adorable.  It's full of vintage card images and patterns.  I love the music sheet and was inspired to make this simple and sweet banner with the song sheet as the base. 

I added die cut letters from more of the patterned papers and layered on the coordinating elements like the ticket stubs and sweet vintage images.  The "Miscellany" pack also includes buttons and ribbon.  I added some old red doilies to the top, some red and white twine, fringe, and glitter from my own stash.  The elements are easy and fun to mix and match and layer.  Here's a few close-ups.

Some of the elements will be perfect to include as journaling spots or extra pages in my December Daily.  I prepped a few to see how they would work out (and they are just too fun to play with I didn't want to put them away yet :))  I'm sure I'll be pulling from these pieces throughout the month.

Lastly, I pulled several elements together to make this super sweet layout of a photo of my younger sister and me in 1978.  I would hardly call us vintage, but these fun papers really compliment the black and white (okay a teeny bit old) photo.  I love it! 

Hope you've been inspired!  Happy Crafting - Karen

More Christmas Package Wrapping Ideas

Have you wrapped everything yet?  Here are a few more ideas for creative wrapping.

For this one I hand cut a letter D from cardboard (a cereal box) and wrapped it in fuzzy string.  I created the pennant banner by handcutting triangles from scraps of paper, attaching them with pop dots, and added the string with glue.  I also glued on the button to attach the letter.

I love how these packages turned out!  They were for my fellow "tea committee" members, so I cut the tea flourish found on Damask Decor and simply adhered it to a kraft paper base.  I used my Crop A Dile to punch holes in the popsicle stick (easily) and strung a ribbon through (it's tied in the back).  I added the name with red pen and then sprayed a little shimmer over the whole thing.

This last one may be my favorite!  Just cover your package with plain wrap and let your little one do the decorating!  Little Miss H. put glittery stickers on for daddy and "signed" her name (the letter Hs).  So cute!

December Daily - Days 10 - 18

Here's my second round of December Daily pages.  It just works for me to print off a week's worth of photos and complete my pages in one day (as time allows).  Enjoy!

Christmas Mantle Sign

So excited to finish this yesterday!  I love how easy the project was (and I didn't spend a dime!) and it makes such a statement (literally) on our mantle.  I first saw the idea on Pinterest - thank you Red Letter Words!  - and wanted to make my own version.  First thing I did was rummage around in our garage for a suitable piece of scrap wood.  I lucked out and didn't even have to cut anything as I found a perfectly sized piece of luan.  I brushed it off (ewww- it had been in there awhile) and brought it into the house.  It sat on my mantle for a week or so before I finally got to bring it up into my craft room for its makeover.  I found some acrylic paints in my stash to use - a charcoal grey, country blue, and metallic gold.  I simply squirted the grey on first and brushed away! I kept it pretty dry and thin, so the wood shows through a little, too.  I added a little blue and gold, using the same brush.  It all blended together nicely for a weathered look.  I painted the star with more acrylic - a mustard gold - again with the dry brush technique.  I added a bit of yellow and crystal stickles for a bit of glimmer.  I cut my letters using my Cricut - Sophisticated (for "love") and Lyrical Letters.  I used some pages out of an old hymnal - Christmas hymns of course.  Then I laid them out on my board and mod podged them all in place.  The manger scene can be found it the Inspired Heart Cricut cartridge.  Love this project and love that it's a big reminder of the reason to celebrate Christmas!

Linking up to:

            

Wrapping Up Christmas Packages

I decided that I would be more creative with my packaging this year, so I only bought brown kraft paper and a roll of plain white wrap.  Here are a few things I wrapped this week using my Cricut and other "scrap" supplies.

#1 = kraft wrap, 2 layers of scrapbook paper, sillhouette cut from A Child's Year, red sheer ribbon.

#2 = kraft wrap, a doily, red ribbon; tag cut from Winter Woodland cartridge

#3 = white wrap, snowman cut from Winter Frolic, glitter glue, silver letters, a bit of white fleece glued on for the snowman's snowy hill

#4 = kraft wrap, white and blue scrapbook paper, silhouette cut from Christmas Village, black marker to outline; tag cut from Joys of the Season

I'll be posting some more little Christmas crafties soon, so check back!

December Daily

Yeah! I finally sat down to work on my December Daily Album for this year.  My cover has been done for ages, but with the tea and just catching up around the house, the dailies were at the bottom of the list.  I finally printed off pics for days 1-9 and completed them last night and this morning.  I am using a red Fancy Pants Brag Book for my album.  I basically took off the binding and am leaving it off until I am done.  I just take from the pile of pages and use what I want for each day.  The Brag Book comes with three different types of pages - the single kraft page with journaling lines and red scrolls, the red pocket page, and the 4x6 photo sleeves.  I'm not worried about them being in a specific pattern or anything - whatever I feel like for that day is what I'll use. 

I really like the Christmas line from Teresa Collins and am using a lot of that.  I purchased the set of coordinating stamps, too.  I LOVE the deer motif and the rich reds.  But I'm also using lots of other things, including the Mrs. Claus's Kitchen Christmas Stack from DCWV and the O' Christmas Tree Recollections Signature Stack.