Christmas Card 2013 Details

 

Here's my 2013 Holiday Card.  I got to tell you, I had some serious doubts that this was going to get done and in the mail before Santa came.  With two kids and one less week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I almost ran out of time.  

I'm happy to report, I made it.  I made it with only a couple of days to spare before the big guy got here.  Way closer than I would prefer but I made it none the less.  

I made this using Papertrey Ink's Instant Photo Pull Out die, released back in September.  When I saw this die, I KNEW it was going to be used for this year's card.  It helps bring your cards together in a snap!

Look!  Even the back of the card is pretty.  

This year I typed my sentiment up and printed them on the computer, then ran it through my die machine.  This saved me a TON of time, and I need all the time I can beg, borrow, or steal!   Aren't these two boys sitting on Santa's lap just the cutest human beings you've ever seen?  I think so, but I know I'm biased. 

 

I had plans to go all fancy on this and use embossing powder to emboss the front image.  I'm so glad I talked myself out of that thought, I'd be working on these cards till next Christmas had I decided to follow through on that wonderful (but dumb) idea.   Maybe someday when the house is empty and I go back to making cards about my cats :)

 I did work in a little fun though.  I've been wanting to use a QR code on a card for a couple of years now and I finally did it this year.  For those of you that don't know what a QR code is, your smart phone or tablet can scan this code and it will jump the reader to a website for more info.  You have to download a QR Code Reader, you can get plenty of them for free.

Instead of adding our family "Top 10 List" this year, I had the QR code take the recipient to a hidden page on my blog where I wrote up a post all about our experiences this past year.  With a new baby, a top 10 list just didn't seem to cut it....i.e., this bragging momma has a lot to talk about :) Your smart phone might be "smart" enough to scan this bar code right on your computer screen, try it!  Mine did!  If not, you can find the details  of the hidden blog page by clicking the list below. TRUST ME, you want to check this out, little Robbie dances to Christmas music.  Nobody can resist a baby dancing to Christmas music!  

CLICK HERE FOR MY CHRISTMAS CARD LINK!

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!

Holiday Crafts 2013

'Tis the season, right?  I know, the blog has been pretty quiet, but I promise it isn't because I haven't been crafting.  Quite the opposite really.  I'm struggling to get everything done this year and I'm taking things day by day! Literally, DAY BY DAY.  Today's "to do" list includes getting these pictures posted from my holiday card class. Hopefully if you need some last minute ideas for small gifts for co-workers, friends, or neighbors, this post will give you some ideas.

This glassine bag is an envelope for a little treat or a gift card.  Or both!  You pick.   If you keep up with crafting blogs, you will see that this mimics a lot of the cards and scrapbook pages out their right now.  It is a light whimsy style.  It really doesn't reflect anything I would come up with on my own free will.  I used this PTI Make IT Monday project as inspiration.  Really, I almost copied Danielle's design and I only made minor tweaks.  I think the more and more I work with the whimsy style, the more natural it will become. Here is a link to her Whimsy pinterest board, I found this board really  helpful in get the creative juices flowing:  Dflanders Modern Whimsy Pinterest Board.   

Next up, a hot cocoa gift.  This is always a favorite gift this time of year.  Stampin' Up had this tag as a digital give away a couple years ago and it finally came in handy.  Thanks for the digital grab Stampin' Up!  It reads, "Even naughty people deserve something nice".  So true :)

The top was finished with some Papertrey Ink stamps, "stir, sip, & enjoy".  The hot cocoa mix recipe is pretty good and can be found on Snap.  It makes a TON!  We're currently drinking the mix without the candy canes added, we'll be adding candy canes next time!

Oh, and a fun little buy this past month was Papertrey Ink's new coffee cozy die.  I haven't decided yet if it is worth the effort.  Did anyone else buy one?  What are your thoughts?

I do like that the die had these coordinating little pieces to it but I almost think this was more work then just using my sewing machine and cutting out a pattern and sewing it up.  I'd been interested to know what other's think of this die. 

Inside the mug I hid some hot cocoa and some little Ghirardelli Chocolates.  A Starbucks' gift card would also fit inside if you are looking to make this an even bigger gift for the recipient on your list. 

Not a lot of instruction is needed with this next project.  This wine tag is perfect for the hostess in your life.  I used the wine tag die from PTI.  If you remember, this sucker got a lot of use this summer for my sister's bridal shower.  I love this die, it always makes a quick and easy gift and can be customized for any occasion.  

Here is a close up of a fun little technique to make the tag a little bit more three dimensional, just two folds a quarter of an inch apart on each end with your bone folder will give this tag a little more substance. 

Oh, I'm in love with this fun little poinsettia pin.    I cut out two of each of the pieces from the poinsettia die and hot glued all the pieces together (very carefully, that glue gun gets super hot). 

I found these pretty gems at a local scrapbook store and glued it to the center.  I added two die cut leaves (you really could probably free hand cut these out).

I hot glued a pin to the back but this would also be super cute attached to an elastic band for a little baby girl's hair piece.  No baby girls in this household so this one is "sticking" as a pin. 

This gift box is a super giant pain in the butt (wastes a lot of paper in my opinion) but I like the finished results and I already bought the template so I might as well get some use out of it. 

I hid an ornament filled with alcohol inside this box.  Oh fun idea:  I ran all my scrap paper that was going into the garbage through my paper shredder and used it as filler inside the box.  What can I say, I'm a recycler.  

Here's a close up of the ornament.  Yes, the drink actually has the alcohol already in it and is READY.TO.DRINK.  I found them at Sam's club just recently so if you hurry there, you might still be able to grab some this holiday season. 

Well hopefully you see something in today's post that gives you some inspiration to get a little crafty this holiday season!  See you all soon!  PROMISE!