Inkredible Stamping with Julie

Mini Breads - All Wrapped Up

Hi Stampers,

Every year for Christmas my Mom makes up her Christmas Bread (Date Nut Bread)... This year we decided to add a few other flavors to the mix so there was something for everyone! (Ok I know you're saying - it's WAY past Christmas!! But I had to share this idea with you - it's a fun way to give Little Breads year round!)

We always struggle with how to wrap the breads so getting the gift is fun, but still showing off the pretty breads! I LOVE what we came up with this year. I simply took natural color Coffee Filters, stacked several of them together, and then tied a ribbon or length of fabric around the middle of the breads to hold everything together

I used My Digital Studio to make Tags for the breads so we could identify the flavors. It's so easy to make tage using MDS. The Digi Punches are sized to match the actual SU Punches so I just design what I want. Print them out on Whisper White card stock and then use the coorisponding Paper punch to punch the tags out.

Check out all the fun items avaliable for Digital Designing with My Digital Studio. Click Here.

 

Very Merry Chocolates...

I love getting together with my Stampin' Up! team and no get together is more fun than our Create, Ink! December Christmas Party / Team Meeting! The party is always filled with good food, fun projects, and tasty gifts :)

Barb hosted this year's get together and she has Little Chocolate treats for everyone!

Barb used one of my FAVORITE stamp sets - It's a Wrap Holidays (See it Online) to stamp labels for the Chocolates. She put them into a Cello Bag and then added a cute topper featuring the Holly Berry Boquet Product Suite!

These make great little last minute gifts .. and if you don't already own the Stamp Set it's not too late - You can buy the My Digital Studio version of the set, download it right away, and start printing. Check it out by clicking here.

Last Minute Gift Ideas - Modern Prints Calendar

I loved creating my team gifts this year! I fell in LOVE with the 2012 Modern Prints Calender template when it came out and decided that I wanted to make them.

I printed up the calendars with no picture at the top so each page could  be embelished. I decorated January to get them started, but since this gift was for my Team Christmas Party I wanted them to be able to decorate the upcoming months however they wanted so I left them as is, ready for embellishing.

The pages are all double sided with the Modern Prints Papers printed on the background so this gift is Green too. After each month is finished they can cut the page up and use the patterened paper on cards or other paper projects.

You can recycle an old CD Case for these calendars but you need to take them apart to make them stand up. I like to use the cases designed to be calendar cases since them open up and stand all in one motion. Mine came from Calendar Cases.

What I LOVE about this project is it's so Quick and Easy to create - perfect for Last Minute Gifts and you don't even need to own My Digital Studio to create it - it's very easy to print the "For Other Applications" versions of the template for your calendars!

I created a quick Tutorial for you, taking you through the steps of making these calendars for both MDS Users and For creation with other applications.

Click Here to Download the Tutorial.

Vintage Ornament with Gift Box and Card

This vintage inspired ornament is a perfect gift for a teacher, co-worker, or friend!  Project includes instructions for the pretty vintage ornament, a keepsake box for it, and a matching card!  This is a fun and easy project that you can do with your friends (while sipping on some eggnog or how about a peppermint martini!!) or do for a class project!

 

 

This great project comes to you designed by Heidi! To get the tutorial visit Craft Project Central and subscribe to December.

Snowman Gift Box Tower

This adorable snowman gift box tower is the perfect way to shower someone special with gifts!  Finished as shown this box is over 16 inches tall!  Make just one hexagon box, a stack of three, or make it into a tall stack of four boxes and decorate it like a snowman! 

 

 

This cute snowman gift box project comes to you designed by Amanda! Visit Craft Project Central and subscribe to December for all the details on this project!

Mr. Snowman Treat Box & Snowflake Card

Whether you’re ready for the holidays or not, a special thank you gift and card are always in season, and great to have on hand. This Mr. Snowman Treat Box and Snowflake Card would be a great way to thank someone this holiday season for all they do for you! And, after the treats are long gone, your Mr. Snowman will still stand smiling as a nice addition to their Winter Decor!

 

 

This cute project comes to you designed by Julie! For the tutorial subscribe to Craft Project Central for December.

Crafting Handmade Gifts

Crafting Handmade Gifts

	Q&A Q: Do you have suggestions for quick and affordable gifts? A: People love getting handcrafted gifts. The saying about the thought being what counts is so true. You don't have to spend a fortune or eons of time making thoughtful gifts. Read on to find out about ideas for Food from the Heart, Inexpensive & Impressive, and Fast & Fabulous gifts you can create in the twinkle of an eye - but don't tell Santa he has competition! Food from the Heart We all love the comfort and thoughtfulness of homemade goodies around the holidays, and honestly, any other time, too! One of my favorite gifts to give (and receive) is the timeless Mason jar filled with a family cookie mix and recipe, soup mix, baked cookies, fudge, candies, cocoa mix, etc. This inexpensive gift is great because it's personal, it doesn't need to be dusted, it fits anyone, and it's a snap to create. Simply create a belly-band around the jar using Designer Series Paper or stamped card stock. Then add a bit of ribbon around the neck of the jar with a hand-stamped tag, fill with goodies, and you are done! I like using the From the Kitchen Of (#114964) stamp set to include the recipe for the treat included in the jar. Another great option is a big, oversized mug decorated with Decor Elements and filled with a special flavored coffee or tea bags. Add a Decor Element to the mug, then tie a ribbon with a hand-stamped tag around the handle and you have a great gift. The Letters to Santa Decor Elements (#124195) are a great option because they include lots of images that are perfect for the holidays, there is a coordinated stamp set for a tag, and they are a great value. Inexpensive & Impressive Gifts don't have to cost the world to be impressive. Purchase inexpensive scarves and/or gloves (sometimes even in $1 bins) and dress them up with fun embellishments. You can use Designer Fabric or ribbon to create a colorful ruffle. Add a whimsical flower using the Big Shot to die cut Designer Fabric, fleece, and felt. Create a coordinating brooch that can be pinned to a jacket for a fun, coordinating look! Quickly stitch on buttons in the recipient's favorite color for a stylish look, or a whole rainbow of colors for a fun and vibrant look. The Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die (#120893) is great for creating fabric accents and ruffles. The Flower Folds Bigz XL die (#115970) is one of many options for creating flower brooches and accents. Another thoughtful gift is a stack of hand-stamped cards. Make a whole set of cards with a monogram or an assortment of all-occasion cards. Tie them together with a ribbon and a hand-stamped tag and you have a fast and useful gift.   Fast & Fabulous Simply Adorned Charm necklaces are one of my fast and fabulous gift items. They are ideal gifts to give to mothers, sisters, friends, daughters, etc. No worrying about sizes makes it easy, and the style can be customized to any preference, and can also be easily changed. It takes next to no time to create a couple of inserts customized for your friends and family. Create inserts with a monogram, simple floral images, seasonal inserts, or any of a huge variety of options. When you consider the nearly endless possibilities and the ease of changing the look, you'll appreciate the amazing value and thoughtful personalization that this gift offers! Because the Simply Adorned charms and chains come in gift boxes, just tie a ribbon and add a hand-stamped tag to enjoy stress-free gift wrapping! It’s not too late! These are just a few of the many possibilities for heartfelt, last-minute gifts that let you share your creativity and the true spirit of the season. Imagine how special your friends and family will feel when they receive the special gift you designed and created just for them! Contact me today for more ideas and to get any supplies you may need, and you'll have those last-minute gifts checked off your list in no time!
© CraftyPerson Production. Images © Stampin' Up!

Brooch & Earrings Gift Set!

At this time of the year we’re all looking for fun gifts to make for our family and friends.  We might also be in need of accessories to match our outfits when attending holiday parties!   Here is a great Brooch & Earrings gift set that you can make for yourself and for gift giving!  This is a quick and fun project that you can make for your downline members, or any of your crafty friends!  This project is also a fun club, class or Stamp Camp project!  Included in the project are instructions for turning the flowers into a gorgeous gift set for a little girl as well!

 

 

This great gift set comes to you designed by Kris! If you would like the tutorial for this project visit Craft Project Central and subscribe to November.

Making Gifts for the Holidays

Making Gifts for the Holidays

	Q&A Q: I’m thinking of making gifts this year. What do you suggest? A: Handmade gifts are always popular because they show the heartfelt thought and effort that you put into choosing and creating the perfect, unique gift. Advent calendars are fun gifts to give and create ahead of the holidays, and gifts like a set of cards, homemade treats with decorated bags, holiday banners, and calendars are ideal for a variety of people and budgets. Advent Calendars The ever-popular tradition of opening a door a day to get a piece of candy, a special quote, or even a suggestion of a fun holiday activity can be made even more fun when you create a custom Advent calendar. The detailed Advent calendar on page 36 of the Holiday Mini Catalog uses the Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die (#124587) and the 24 & Counting stamp set (#123792 wood mount, #123794 clear mount). This makes a great format for sharing the Christmas story or suggesting holiday activities like cookie baking and decorating the tree. If you prefer a different type of Advent calendar, try the Matchbox Bigz XL Die (#114890) to die cut Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper (#124002). Stack and glue the boxes in a square or in the shape of a Christmas tree and fill each box with small gifts or candy. Budget-Friendly Tasty Treats For less expensive gifts that are perfect for neighbors, co-workers, or for children’s classes, you can make homemade candy or cookies and package them in our skinny Cellophane Bags (#124134). Add a stamped topper to the 1” x 8” tube and you have a unique and yummy gift that anyone will appreciate. For larger items, we also have rectangular cellophane bags in three sizes: 3” x 5” (#103104), 4” x 6” (#102757) and 6” x 8” (#102210). Or create quick & easy, custom decorated boxes using our Kraft Gift Boxes (#124106) as your starting point. Wrap with our 1-1/4” Striped ribbon and add a hand-stamped tag and you have a great gift. Personalized Gifts For those special people on your list, you can step it up a bit and create a custom holiday banner using the Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die (#124098) and coordinating Stocking Accents Originals Die (#124099). Use die-cut or chipboard letters to put a family name or a message like “joy” or “Merry” on the banner with one letter per stocking. String the stockings on a Satin ribbon with the adorable and functional Mini Clothespins (#122942). And everyone needs a great calendar for 2012. You can create a custom calendar using our digital paper crafting software, My Digital Studio (#118108). The great thing about using My Digital Studio to make a calendar is that you can completely customize each page with your favorite designs or use one of our designer templates to save time. Make the calendars extra special when you add photos of your family members on their birthday or anniversary dates. Plus, you can design once and print as many as you like! Or design once and then just tweak it a bit to customize the calendar for different families! Handmade Joy There is a joy to creating and giving a handmade gift that is extra special. Store-bought gifts just don’t have the same heart as something that you designed and created with someone special in mind. Plus, you get the added benefit of slowing down and enjoying the experience of creating that gift without having to fight crazy mall crowds or stormy winter roads! Contact me today to plan your holiday gifts and you can get started with the fun and festive process of creating your heartfelt, holiday gifts!
© CraftyPerson Production. Images © Stampin' Up!

Fabric Coasters Holiday Hostess Gifts

Hi Stampers,

Today I'm sharing the project I created for this Month's Craft Project Central.

A BIG thanks to Judy who inspired this project - she was playing around with these coasters at our purse making workshop and I fell in LOVE with them!!

These fabric coasters are fun and easy to put together. Bundle a set of four coasters together and tuck them into a cello bag with a Christmas tag and you have a great Hostess Gift. Be sure to make up several sets and you can grab them on your way out the door to all your holiday parties. It’s always nice to have a hostess gift ready to go even when you get a last minute invite!

I would love to know what kinds of quick and easy Hostess gifts you keep on hand during the holidays.... leave a comment on this post and share with me!!