Holiday Gifts!!

Happy Friday my friends---yeehaw, the weekend is here again :o) We don't really have any plans other than seeing my daughter's All County Chorus performance tomorrow afternoon. She's in so many singing groups I can't keep them all straight, lol--there is chamber choir, 7th grade chorus, all county chorus, district chorus & now she's trying out for State Chorus--ackk! I can't even remember my own name somedays let alone which chorus practice she needs to be at, lol! But she loves to sing so its all worth it (just wish she'd stop singing High School Musical songs--NOT my favorite--I'm not a fan, sad I know, lol)!

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BLOG CANDY ALERT--If you haven't entered for my BLOG CANDY yet please see this post to enter. You have until Sunday, Nov.9th at midnite (EST) to enter! Don't forget to answer the question too--love reading everyone's answers! Don't worry about double comments--I choose a number by Random.org and count by hand myself & I don't count a second comment, so don't WORRY :o)!! Don't forget to visit Susana's Custom Art & Card Design for her WebCandy--she has a separate stamp & goodies up for grabs too!
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Alrighty, I do not have any cards to share today (GASP) just some holiday projects for ya. This first project is a jewelry box gift set that includes a snowflake brooch/pin & earrings all made by me!! Over on SCS there is a tutorial for making your own paper pins & its super easy to do. I bought my pin & earring backs from Michael's jewelry section (lots in a pack for under $2). The snowflake stamp for the pin is from PTI's "Snowfall Additions" set that I stamped in versamark onto my cs and then embossed in white. After cooling I punched them out w/ my Marvy Snowflake punches that coordinate w/ this stamp set (cool, huh). I then put 2 coats of Diamond Glaze (letting it dry between coats) on the front & back of each snowflake to stiffen it up; the snowflakes are attached together with strong adhesive glue (E6000) as is the pin back. I then used my fabulous new Glitz Stickles to add dots to the ends of the pin and a silver pearl in the center.

The earrings were stamped using the same snowflake onto my craft shrinky dink paper w/ versamark ink. I then coated them w/ heat embossed glitter and shrunk these babies down to size. After cooling I glued the earring backs on w/ my E6000 glue and added a silver pearl center. I like how it turned out--whaddya think?

For the gift box I used the tutorial/template found here (my favorite lil box to make). I stamped the top & sides with snowflakes from PTI's "Snowflake Serenade" set in "ocean tides" ink. I punched out a few more snowflakes and layered them together w/ dimensionals w/ a white glitterdot in the center. The SU baja breeze ribbon is wrapped around the lid and attached w/ tacky tape. I also used PTI's "Holiday Tag Collection" (a must have) for the small tag and cut it out w/ my Nestabilities Tag Trio and attached w/ PTI's sheer ribbon. I think this makes an elegant & wintry holiday gift box!

My last project today is my "Project of the Month" for Whiff of Joy--we were challenged by Katharina to make a "candle" project. I decided to make a luminary because I love their softness and elegance. I used my "Melinda Christmas Angel" and stamped her on vellum w/ Staz-On ink . I also stamped some snowflakes and the "Joy" sentiment from PTI's "Snowflake Serenade" set. I colored the underside of the stamp w/my Copics so that the colors would be muted. I also used my new favoritest Glitz Stickles on the ends of the snowflakes & to the berries--these stickles are alot thicker & so much more sparkly!

I attached 2 strips of riding hood red cs to the ends of each of the vellum(8.5x11)--one strip I used my new Martha Stewart border punch on. After rolling the entire piece I attached it with tacky tape on the inside and then wrapped gold ribbon from PTI around the top & bottom. I lit mine with a battery powered tealights (Dollar store had them 6 for $1) so I don't burn my house down, lol. Wish the picture would've turned out better, but this was the best I could get with it lit! This is actually my second luminary cuz' my dog actually chewed the first one, no lie, she likes to chew paper, ugh! So I'm late with my project, but make sure and check out the rest of the WOJ's DT projects here---they are fabulous!! And the new releases will be available on Nov. 8th---you can see the peeks here--hope you've saved up for these! I'm anxiously stalking my mailman for my rubbah'--can't wait to ink these beauties up!

Enough from me today, lol! Check out the new online crafting forum Paper Craft Planet when you get a chance--it's hoppin' over there! Look me up & make me your friend :o)

hugz,

Suzanne