It's a Cozy Christmas

Howdy!  Welcome.  I know, it has been a while (eek! 11 days) since I posted last.  My apologies.  But, I'm sure that you all can relate.  It's that crazy, busy time of year.  We all have obligations, commitments, and festivities to attend.  And todays share is just that.  {smile}  I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and my team gets together periodically to share creative ideas, and to socialize.  It's always way too much fun!  Anyways, we always get together during the holidays to do a gift and card exchange.  So, I am sharing with you the gift I made for the exchange.  I am also entering my project into a few challenges {smile}.

My first challenge entry is @ {Cupcake Inspirations}: CIC388.  They have this beautiful cupcake inspiration photo.  The required colors: red, gold, and cream.  How beautiful together!

What a gorgeous cupcake, right? and how inspirational!  And if this photo isn't enough, check out what this wonderfully talented group of ladies have created!  Amazing!

My next challenge entry is @ Word Art Wednesday #260-#261.  Their challenge is typically Anything Goes.  Which allows you to get creative and just make something.  This is a family-friendly site.  This wonderfully talented group of ladies provide you with a scripture (not required).  But the write-up will be spiritual.  So, it's always a good idea, to grab a cup of coffee, and read their beautiful words. {smile}

and here is what I made:

cupcake inspiration entry #22 & word art wednesday entry #237

Yes, it is another one of my holiday totes.  I just love these!  The decorated front has two coffee cups, because the inside in coffee themed.  Pretty sweet, right?

Recipe:  I used all Stampin' Up! supplies to create this, except the die to cut the tote and the clear box to hold my goodies.

The card stock to make the panels, Cherry Cobbler card stock (#119685).  I just love the depth of this red, and the heavy weight of the paper.  {smile}  The pattern paper for the tote and coffee cuffs is a new holiday paper Warmth & Cheer designer series paper stack (#141991).  This paper 'stack' comes in a 6" x 6" pad.  So the patterns are a smaller scale for cards and other projects.  The main panel is white card stock that was run through an embossing folder to give it the appearance of a sweater.  I thought it was a perfect pair! The embossing folder is Cable Knit (#143537).  This new embossing folder is 6" x 6", which I just love.  I machine stitched the embossed panel to the main pattern paper.  Then I wrapped a scrap piece of another pattern paper from the same pack: Warmth & Cheer.  

I used Delightful Dijon 5/8" mini Striped ribbon (#141430) to tie a simple bow to the tote.

The coffee cups from the Perfect Blend stamp set (#130745) were stamped on white card stock and then again on more pattern paper from the Warmth & Cheer collection.  I used foam tape to 'lift' one of the coffee cups off the front of the tote.  I didn't want it to look too flat.  I tied some kraft twine through a wooden button (retired) and adhered it to the cuff with a glue dot.

I made my sentiment with the same pattern paper as the belly band.  I stamped my sentiment in black classic ink, because that is what I used to stamp the coffee cups and cuffs.  I used a retired holiday stamp set Cozy Christmas (#139779) for the sentiment.

The tote contains: homemade Peppermint Bark, Vanilla Bean Marshmallows, and Cinnamon Nuts (almonds and pecans) packaged in clear (food safe) cello bags, along with a Starbucks coffee cup Christmas ornament, and a Starbucks gift card.  

Thank you for looking.  I hope you have been inspired to play along with these challenges.  I am off to cut card stock to make my Christmas cards.  Yeah, I am over a week late at this task.  But, they will be in tomorrows snail mail.  {smile}  I also need to get a few more totes made to go into the mail.

Have a wonderful day, and enjoy whats left of your weekend!

Ho {cubed}; It's Christmas

~ photo heavy post ~

The paper crafting continues {smile}.  I was struggling earlier yesterday, and couldn't figure out where to start.  So, I simply just started {smile}.  I used the current sketch from Cardabilities, to get the creative juices flowing.  And it did!  I created a pair of holiday cards using some sweet vintage-y style pattern papers from Paper Studio.  And I purchased these pattern papers on sale.  Cha-ching!

current sketch:

I'm also entering the current challenge over @ the Papertake Weekly Challenge.  Their current challenge is: Christmas; it will soon be here.  Check out their creative design team.  Very talented!

and what I created (the red version):

and the green version:

and yeah, I did stamp the inside:

The sentiments were stamped on very vanilla card stock.  I used two new holiday stamp sets by Stampin' Up!. (outside the card, uses Oh What Fun stamp set, and inside the card, uses Cozy Christmas stamp set.) They were hand-stamped with basic black classic ink.  All the pattern papers are from Paper Studio.  For the inside of the card, I cut a narrow strip of the margin pattern paper, and tore the end to resemble washi tape.  

I sponged all the edges, of the various papers, with crumb cake classic ink.  I also added machine stitching along the bottom portion of each card.  And machine stitched the cotton trim and cotton ribbon.  The cotton trim was purchased from a local sewing store.  The cotton ribbons are from Stampin' Up!

I added buttons from my stash (red corduroy and garden green button) are retired from Stampin' Up!. And a silver reindeer charm is tied to the bow with cream twine.  

Thank you for looking.  I'm planning on making a few gift card holders and gift bags using this festive holiday pattern paper.  Stay tuned {smile}.  And these cards will be for sale in my Etsy shop.