WRAP UP your Holiday Shopping with a Gift Card + 5 ideas for Gift Card Gifting!
Need a last minute gift?! We’ve got you covered! Pick your denomination and send safely to the lucky recipient of your choice!
The five ways of gift card gifting included into today’s FREE class include:
- Pop-up Gift Card Holder in a Card
- Pocket Tag
- Large Pocket Note
- 3D Pop-Up Card Display
- Arched Dome Shape Card with Pocket
WATCH THE VIDEO:
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Merry Christmas Eve, friends!
One Stamp, Five Ways: Friends Furever
Hi friends! Happy Monday, and please join me in welcoming back special guest Suzy Plantamura to our blog with our latest edition of One Stamp Five Ways, which means…. another month is just about in the books! WOW! Read on to learn more about these 5 beauties, and enjoy!
Today I have a “one stamp, five ways” post to share with you using the new Friends Furever stamp and die bundle as well as many other products from the To Love release.
I stamped ALL of the images from the Friends Furever stamp set (with multiples of the flowers) with Versafine black ink on white cardstock. I colored them all in with Copic Markers and added some shading and texture to some of the critters with colored pencils. I also added some white details with a white Uniball gel pen. I used these images on all of my cards.
I used the new Harlequin Heart 6×6” stamp for the background of my card. I stamped it with Pastel Pink Ink on white cardstock and cut it down to fit on a A2 card front. I die-cut an Arched Dome Die from white cardstock and attached it to the center of the card front.
I die-cut a heart using the new Sweethearts Box Die and inked it with the same Pastel Pink Ink. I attached my colored koala bears (I made mine koala’s, but they could be any type of bear!) to the bottom of the arch. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set with Versafine black ink and attached it above the bears. I added the inked heart above that and used a flower stamp in the center of it. I tied some pink and white twine in a bow on the left side of the card.
I used the new Sweethearts Box Die for this little box and it is so cute! I didn’t think I could find any candy hearts in the middle of all of the Christmas candy that is in the stores right now (when I made this project) but I do want to fill it with them before giving ti to my grand daughter! I die-cut it from white cardstock. I embossed the new Dotted Hearts Embossing Folder and then rubbed two colors of ink over it. I used Carnation Ink first and then used Guava ink over it lightly to just cover some of the details on the hearts. I cut a piece to fit on the front of the box.
I attached the kitty stamped image to the front of the box. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set with black ink and glued that to the top of the box. I tied some twine to the bottom of the box wrapping it around twice and adding a little flower in the bow I tied. I glued two of the roses I had colored from the stamp set tucked under the bow. These little boxes have so many possibilities and I can’t wait to give them away this year!
I die-cut a rectangle using the SSS Nested Slimline Rectangle Die from white cardstock. I rubbed Rhubarb Ink lightly on the top and Earl Ink to the bottom. I arranged a few of my stamped and colored images over the front creating a cute little scene.
I stamped the Happy Valentine’s Day stamp on the top of the card using black ink. I attached it to a red card base. Last, I added a few white dots around the background with Chalk Stick Vintage Nuvo Drops.
I used my “random stamping” technique for this card. I never tire of it and I hope you don’t either since I use it anytime there are a lot of small stamps in a stamp set. I stamped a few of the images over a piece of white A2 sized cardstock with black ink. I then colored them in with Copics. I should have left it alone as I preferred it with a white background, but I decided to color it black using a Copic. I used a white Uniball gel pen for the details and the balloon strings.
I attached this piece to a black card base. I stamped the “hugs” stamp from the new Love Letter 4×6” stamp set with black ink and colored it in with Copic Markers to look like bubble letters. I fussy cut it out and attached it to the bottom of the card with foam tape behind it. I added another sentiment stamp below it from the Furever Friends stamp set using black ink. I tied a piece of SSS red/white twine around the top of the card in a bow.
I used the new Outline Hearts 6×6” stamp set, stamping it with Rhubarb Ink for the background of this card. I used the matching 6×6” stencils to add different colors of ink inside the hearts (colors listed in the supply list). I see as I look at this that I missed one small heart ooops! I die-cut a circle from white cardstock using the SSS Nested Circle Dies.
I attached the circle to the bottom of the card hanging it over the edge and cut off the excess. I then attached the cute Simon dog with balloons to the circle using foam tape behind the balloons. I used a Warm Grey Copic Marker to add a little ground below the dog so he looks grounded. I added another single red balloon as well. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set with black ink and attached that with foam tape behind it. I glued the “xoxo” letters on using red cardstock and the new Sweethearts Box Die dies. I added Tonic Crystal Glaze (just like Glossy Accents) over the balloons.
I think I love making Valentine’s cards as much as Christmas cards, so this was a fun transition! Happy soon to be love season and welcome to 2025 friends! –Suzy
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Suzy for being our guest!
Christmas Greetings Vignette Box by Emma Williams
Hi friends! Happy Sunday! Please join me in a very warm welcome back to special guest Emma Williams with this GORGEOUS Christmas display piece! Read on for all the details and enjoy!
Hello everyone! I’m so happy to be back on the SSS blog today and can’t wait to share all the details of my Christmas Holiday project for 2024. This vintage style make was inspired by shopping trips with my Mom who loved Christmas so much. She would always make sure we went on our trip every year and I would always come home with a special bauble that to this day, still adorns our Christmas Tree.
So with this in mind, I wanted to create a special piece for this Christmas and I used some of my favourite idea-ology products from Tim Holtz’s Christmas release, together with mediums from Ranger Ink to make a project to remind me of some very special times….
So, let’s begin…
For this make I used the two largest sized boxes in the set of 4 Tim Holtz Vignette Boxes.
I began this make by covering each of the four sides of the smaller vignette box with 4, (1 for each side) of the ephemera pieces from the Emporium Layers pack. I also cut three separate pieces of the red and white striped paper from the Christmas Backdrops pack that I adhered to the three sides of the larger box, you don’t need to attach any paper to the base. At this stage, I also chose an Emporium Layers piece that I will use on the inside of the larger box, which we will come to later.
Using a Sanding Tool, I sanded the edges of the ephemera layers on the box to knock back the shiny surface of the ephemera pieces ~ this will help to create more of that vintage feel. I then used the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon around the edges and blended the colour with my fingertip. To complete the boxes, I covered the top of the smaller box with a panel of the plaid design from the Christmas Backdrops pack.
With both boxes covered, I applied a coat of white gesso onto the inside of the larger box, as I wanted the wood to be a lighter colour before adding the lights. I drilled a small hole through the centre of the small box, and aligning it with the larger box, I drilled a hole so that I could thread the lights into it. At this point you don’t want to secure them into position because we need to add the background to the larger box.
I wanted the background on the larger box to be set slightly forward inside the box itself ~ I didn’t want to attach it directly to the back of the box. After choosing my Emporium Layers piece, (to see the piece I chose to use see step 1), I created a “faux’ back by adhering the ephemera piece to a panel of mount board, cut the same size as the layer.
I attached 1cm square wooden blocks/cubes to the back of the layered panel. I had these in my stash but you can also use foam pads. I then placed this piece into the back of the large box and stuck it into position.
Once the background is in position, I adhered the two vignette boxes together with Matte Collage Medium and allowed these to dry thoroughly, before attaching the lights onto the inside of the larger upright box. I placed them around the inside edge, wrapping them around the box a couple of times and fixed them into position with a small amount of hot glue.
FRAME AND SIGN
Now to create the front of the box, and for this I used a combination of a baseboard frame and transparent snowy acetate from the Christmas Baseboards and Transparencies pack. I attached the acetate directly to the inside of the frame using red line tape before fixing the completed frame to the front of the vignette box using Matte Collage Medium.
On either side of the frame I attached one of the Candy Cane pieces from the same Christmas Baseboards pack. I began by covering the backs of these pieces using the red and white striped paper that I had previously used on the box itself ~ this will ensure the back of the box looks finished when you turn it around. Using Matte Collage Medium along the edge of the Candy Cane baseboard piece, I adhered each piece to either side of the box and set them to one side for the glue to dry and the pieces to become secure.
Moving onto the sign that sits on top of the stacked boxes. For this I used the Christmas Greeting Baseboard Ephemera piece, sanded the edges and then covered the back with some more of the red and white paper so that it will all match perfectly when you turn this piece around. To ensure that the sign stands upright, I placed two struts to the back and for this I used offcuts from the Etcetera Facades, but you can use anything you have to hand in your stash ~ you just need it to be substantial enough so that it will allow the piece to stand up.
With my struts in position and painted with a touch of Candied Apple Distress Paint, I attached the sign to the top of my box and once dry and in position.
To complete the structure, and add the finishing touches, I added a further Emporium Layer strip piece at the back of the box, adhering it across the base.
I then added a “door step” to sit in front of the window frame, using the smallest sized Bracket Etcetera Trim, which I covered with the same red and white striped paper.
We’re now ready to add some of the icy magic and for this I used a combination of Mica Flakes and Snowfall Grit Paste. I applied the Snowfall paste to the top of the frame, around the panes on the window frame itself, and finished with some around the top of the sign and on the tips of the Candy Canes.
Before I then applied a drizzle of Glossy Accents over the top and sprinkled the Mica Flakes. Carefully tap away any excess flakes to reveal the icy magic.
PAINTING THE TOY SOLDIER
The boxes are now ready to decorate and I began by painting the soldier. For this I used a fine detail paintbrush and the following colours of Distress Paint: Black Soot, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Uncharted Mariner, Frayed Burlap and Lumberjack Plaid. For the details including his rosy cheeks, I mixed the minutest amount of Candied Apple with Gesso to make a light pink and then used a Gold Posca Marker to add the gold stripe to his hat and his buttons. Once the paint was completely dry, I scuffed it up to add chippy paint marks before adding a touch of Snowfall Grit Paste to his hat and shoulders.
TREES and WREATH
With the soldier attached in front of the window frame, I moved onto making the trees and began applying a light coverage of gesso to the tips of each tree. This will form a resist technique when applying the colour.
I allowed for the gesso to dry before placing the trees in a splat box, and spritzing each tree using Speckled Egg and Rustic Wilderness Distress Spray Stain. You will notice that the gesso resists the inks and therefore leaves the tips white, creating a snowy effect.
Wrap the trees in a paper towel to remove any excess ink and either you can leave them to dry naturally, or gently heat dry before adding the glitter. For this I squeezed a small amount of Glossy Accents onto my craft mat and spread it out to form a thin layer. Roll each tree in the accents to coat the tips only and then working quickly, sprinkle Rock Candy Glitter over the trees, tapping away the excess.
Once the trees are dry, I painted the wooden bases with Lumberjack Plaid Distress Paint and allow to dry before attaching them to either side of the window frame using Matte Collage Medium to secure them into position.
To create the wreath, I applied the gesso to the tips of one of the Woodland Garlands before spritzing the garland with Rustic Wilderness Distress Spray.
Allow for this to dry and then twist the wired garland to create a wreath, cutting away any excess garland and then attaching the two ends with hot glue. I added a sprinkling of Rock Candy Glitter before tying a small piece of red ribbon into a tiny bow and attaching it to the top of the wreath. Adhere the wreath to the frame using hot glue.
PARCELS AND BAUBLES
To create the tiny gift packages, I used a 1cm wooden cube and covered two cubes with offcuts of Christmas Backdrops paper. I then tied them with some twine before attaching them around the toy soldiers feet.
I also added some baubles to the base of the box, because no Christmas project is complete without them. I placed the various sized baubles in separate containers before adding drops of the following colours of Alcohol Inks; Ember, Turquoise and Lettuce. Once the baubles are completely covered in the ink, I then attached them to the box with Glossy Accents.
Finally, I added the “025” Remnant Rub, to my box. These come from my Tim Holtz idea-ology stash and if you don’t have them, then you can always write the number by hand.
All that’s left to do is add that final dusting of shimmery vintage goodness, and I sprinkled Mica Flakes all around the base, on the front and back of the project.
I really hope you love what I’ve created and enjoyed the techniques I’ve used to bring the scene to life…it was such a fun piece to make!
Thanks so much for stopping by today and I want to wish everyone a Joyful Holiday Season, and a Happy Christmas and hoping you all have a peaceful and happy New Year! See you again in 2025! –Emma x
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Emma for being our guest!
