Using up the old making room for the new.

I remember seeing these adorable ornaments on Kimbery's blog last Christmas and thought I would make some to use up some retired materials I have (remember I like to collect pretty things in case they no longer make it). I am thinking if I whip up a box using the backing of the DSP packages, I could give these away to a neighbour.

The ornaments were purchased from a craft store and the top is removed and I inserted about twelve rolled strips of paper (1/2" x 6" wrapped around my paper piercer). I added a snowflake felt flurry to the top for added appeal. If you look real close, I even added some retired rub-ons to one side of the ornament.
In case I don't make another post before December 25th (kids are home from school for Christmas Break) I wish all my followers a very Merry Christmas filled with sparkle, joy, and warm memories and a Happy New Year filled with stamping and new goodies from the Celebration/Occassions Mini which starts January 4th, 2010.

NSR

Todays post is not stamping related but it is pretty cute; actually I should have had it on video because it is a shining example of the curious kitten.

Jazz, our almost six month old kitty is extremely playful and fiesty. She loves to get after the laundry.

From My Secret Santa

I almost forgot the my gift I received from my Secret Santa at our Christmas Down Line Party.
Leslie made this adorable package and the goodies inside as well. Thanks Leslie, they were very yummy.
When I chose this gift from under the tree and held it in my hands, I thought they were the wooden block Stampin' Up! have in the Holiday Mini. To my surprise they opened up.

Simply Perfect

As I mentioned earlier this week, Heather prepared a 'Make and Take" for each one of her team members attending the Christmas Dinner a week ago. Can you believe it? It is so adorable and would be appropriate for a guy or girl. Now the Tim Horton mug did not come with the package but everything including the candy/chocolate did; Heather is so sweet, kind, thoughtful and so caring. You know, adding a Tim mug and/or Tim card to this adorable package would be perfect.

I love the colour combination Heather chose for this make n' take; Soft Suede and Kraft. The chocolate bar wrapper is the perfect addition to a good cup of coffee, hot chocolate or while stamping.

This kraft envelope (didn't know SU offered kraft envelopes) houses a package of hot chocolate waiting to be enjoyed of a cold snowy day.

Now the Strawberry Kiwi candy cane is pretty yummy, but imagine a traditional candy cane in this wrapping used to stir the hot chocolate. The wrapping for the candy cane is made from the Two Tags Die.

Candy Cane Hershey Kisses (7 of them) in a small cello bag fits perfectly with a Top Note topper. What I especially love about this is the small piece of cardstock that is stamped and inserted into the cello bag as a backer.

Thank You Heather for this Special Gift of Love.

Run, Run Rudolph

The Reindeer above was at each place setting from Heather and her daughter Emma. It is my understanding that Emma and her cousin Monica made the reindeer.

Rudolph was not alone at the table either.

Renee, a fellow team member of Simply Stars made everyone a reindeer and placed it at the table as well.

I think they are both adorable.

Thank You Renee, Heather and Emma for these cute table favours.

By the way, I want to get at the treats inside the sweet treats cups but don't want to damage his bright shiny nose.

Snowflake Ornament

Besides being a beautiful Snowflake Ornament can you guess how it was made?

I have to say "Thank You: Janey for this beautiful ornament. Janey, a Simply Stars team member, made everyone in attendance of the down line Christmas Party a snowflake tree ornament; she is so sweet!

Janey took the time and endured a few minor cuts to make these snowflakes. Each snowflake required one wahsed and dried pop can. She had to cut off the top and bottom of the can and cut the cylinder to open flat. Carefully she place the piece of aluminium on the snowflake die and ran it through the Big Shot. Each ornament has two snowflakes adorned with a rhinstone brad in the center and a piece of silver cording.

Everyone was so facinated with this little treasure.

Thank You Janey for thinking of each one of us with a gift hand made with love.

Thank You Heather

I made Heather this framed picture as a huge Thank You to show my appreciation for all she does for me. I am simply honoured and proud to be a team member of "Simply Stars".
I ran out of vinyl so I stamped my image to place inside the 6" x12" frame. I chose snowmen for two reasons...it can stay out on display for the winter months and Heather loves snowflakes and snowmen.
Recipe:
Paper:
6" x 12" Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP
5" x 11" Soft Suede cardstock
3 - 3 5/16" x 4 1/2" Confetti White
Stamps:
Season of Friendship
Snow Buddies
Ink:
Soft Suede, Real Red, Buckaroo Blue (snowflakes), Basic Black
Stampin' Write Markers in Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Real Red, Soft Suede, Brocade Blue
Accessories:
Billboard Alphabet Die, dimensinsionals

Secret Santa Gift

This picture is the Secret Santa gift I made for our down line party. I used retired DSP from Stampin' Up! becasue it was perfect with the Chocolate Chip Vinyl "SNOW" from the Holiday Mix Decor Elements found in the Holiday Mini. To add a bit of bling, I stamped a silver snowflake with a rhinstone brad in the center of the "O".
"Simply Stars" enjoyed our Christmas Dinner Party on Friday night.
Heather Summers is my upline extroidanaire and she plans a fabulous get together for us every month may it ibe business or celebration.
Our dinner was held at Wimble Hall at Kings College and the dinner was catered by staff at Kings. We enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner, turkey and all the trimmings and chocolate mouse cake for dessert. Oh, did I mention the table favours at each place settting made by Heather and her daughter Emma (who is 9 years old). I will show you those later on this week as well.
We started the eveing off visiting with Simply Stars team members whom I call friends. I look forward to sharing ideas and getting to know every lady who loves everything Stampin' Up!.
Before we sat down for dinner, and everyone had arrived, we started the eveing off with a game; Heather loves games; but then so do we as Heather always has prizes.
After dinner, we proceeded to the other room to do our "make and takes". I will share Heather's fabulous creation with you tomorrow.
Heather also arranged a Secret Santa gift exchange for those who chose to participate. This is so much FUN!
Thank You Heather for the care, kindness, encouragement, and love you show us; You are SImply the Best.

Tree Ornament Turtorial Part 4

Apply mini glue dots to the corners of the scallop square and place on top of styrofoam ball. Use your paper piercer in each of the corners to assist in inserting the brads.

Apply two glue dots on top in the center and apply your gold/silver cording as shown.

Next, add another glue dot on top of the cording, find the center of the grosgrain ribbon and place on top. Secure with an aplique pin. Tie your bow and your finished.

What's an Ornament without a box? After all isn't it all about presentation?!

Be kind to the enviroment by using the white cardboard from the DSP packages; it's sturdy enough and perfect for gift giving.

You will need 2 peices of the cardboard.

Bottom: 11" x11" scored at 2 1/2" on all four sides

Lid: 8 1/8" x 8 1/8" scored at 1" on all four sides

Cut on the score lines to form tabs.

Embellish box with coordinating DSP as the tree ornaments.

Four ornaments will fit nicely into this box.

Tree Ornament Tutorial Part 3

View from the top of unfinished ornament.

A view progressing to the top.

A view of the ornament from the bottom.

Tree Ornament Tutorial Part 2

Apply glue dots to each of the corners of the 2 1/4" square and secure with aplique pins in each corner to form the bottom of the tree ornament. Smooth out the paper as best as you can; there will be a few wrinkles but it is not noticable when you are finished.

You will add your first rowe of triangles by placing a triangle to cover the square corner of the first piece (bottom) as shown in the photo.

I know a video tutorial would have been best but I am not a "techy" person and haven't figured that out yet...one day.

You will alternate colour/pattern on each row. This time you will place your second colour/pattern of triangel between the previous layer and slightly above as shown.

Repeat.

There will be four triangles used for each rowe and three rowes of each colour of triangles.

Tree Ornament Tutorial Part 1

What a week this has been so far...busy, busy, busy.
Every year I say to myself I am going to do less, relax more and focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth Christ.
I have not achieved that goal yet. I love baking, decorating, crafting and volunteering at my childrens school to help others but I have made a conscious effort to think of the birth of a King and the gift he gave.
Todays post is for all the wonderful and kind (and extremely patient) ladies who have contacted me regarding the Christmas tree ornament I made here and here.

Supplies:
aplique pins (1/2" to 3/4" in lenght)
2 1/2" styrofoam balls
glue dots
8" gold/silver cording
12" 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
gold/silver brads
scallop edge punch
paper piercer
1-3"x3" square of DSP -scallop all four sides of this square
- this will be the top of the ornament and is applies last
- pierce each of the corners with a paper piercer
1 - 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" square of DSP this is the botton and the first piece applies to assemble the ornament. Use a paper piercer to make a smal hole each of the corners...this helps to save time and makes it easier for inserting the aplique pins
12 - 2"x2" squares of DSP (one pattern or shade of DSP)
12 - 2"x2" squares of DSP (a second pattern or shade of DSP)
-fold each of the 24 - 2"x2" squares in half to form a triangle and fold in half again to make a triangle
-pierce two of the corners of all these pieces

Assembly:
Apply glue dots in each of the corners of the 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" square to help stick to the ball and then insert the pins to secure.

Layers:
Apply mini glue dots to the two corners of all the triangles