Thanksgiving Teacher Gift and class gifts

My very first post was the Autumn Harvest milk carton but I wanted to post it again with the card. I am going to give this to my son's teacher. Then for his class my son helped me with the turkey treat boxes. (I say "helped" because I am not good about letting him help me as I want it done a certain way - but I am learning to let go of some of my perfectionist tendancies). I want him to have some ownership in the project also. I got the idea for the turkey treat boxes here (the 10/28/09 posting). On her blog she has some great uses of the die cut boxes that are made with the big shot. I am going to fill the turkey treat boxes with candy corn.

More tiles, coasters and 3x3 cards

I have been busy making more tiles and coasters for Christmas gifts. For these two tiles I got the idea from here. I also wanted to make some coasters that go with them. I used the travertine tiles and craft ink (love my craft ink).

This first gift set uses the Autumn Splendor stamp set with More Mustard, Really Rust, Ruby Red and Choc Chip craft ink.

This second set uses the Inspired by nature stamp set. I used sponge daubers to dab the craft ink onto the stamp. For all of the tiles I used Glassy Glaze Enamel. I did not put the glossy glaze enamel on the coasters. I baked the tiles and coasters at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes.

The final set of coasters I used both the Farm Life and Country Morning (hostess set) stamp sets. We live in, and I grew up in an agricultural area so these stamps make me feel like home. I made some 3x3 matching cards to go with them.

Thougts and Prayers

I recently purchased the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set and just in time. My uncle is currently in the hospital and I wanted to give him and my aunt a card to let them know I am praying for them. I wanted the card to be somewhat masculine so I used close to cocoa, chocolate chip and artichoke paper. I also love Stampin Up's buttons. For the texturing I used the final press texurizing folder. Now I just have to get the card in the mail.

More Boxes from Inkingidaho tutorial

I had in my mind some other layouts that I wanted to try using the tutorials from Becky Roberts 12 days of Christmas found here. I had already used the snowmen and elves from the Holiday Lineup stamp set and wanted to make a box using the reindeer. For this box I used a tutorial on faux suede. I can't remember the link but it is really easy. First I crumpled up the paper, then uncrumpled it and layed it out flat. From here I used a sanding block to sand the paper. Once finished the paper looks and feels like suede.

I also used my paper piercer around the reindeer. I need some more practice on this but it was fun and I think it added more dimension. I also put some bling on Rudolphs nose.

I also cased Becky Roberts on the Santa box. See her posting here. I used the tutorial for the bow box for this Santa box. I loved the Merry Moments DSP in the current catalog especially the candy cane stripes.

I have been trying to do various techniques on each box. This box again uses the bow box tutorial and I embossed using the small dots and then using a sponge, I sponged on some chocolate chip ink.

This last box was the most work but I am happy with how it turned out. These boxes are so versitile. The boxes are a great size and I could easily fit a large candle gift in this box (snowman box).

Ok - Actually this is a double casing. I cased the card from http://www.inkspiredtreasures.com/ here. After I made the card I new I wanted to make a matching box. I was happy that the snowman fit on the box. This took me awhile because I decorated all of the sides of the box.

I am going to have a hard time giving away these boxes. Some I plan on using to decorate with for Christmas. I think I am done making boxes for a little while as I have some classes I have to get ready for but it has been fun making them.

TFL

Etching Glass for Christmas

I have been playing around with some different techniques to do at my December craft night and wanted to try etching on glass with my stamps. The technique can be found here. I tried three different stamps. The first one I made used the Santa from Wondering words stamp set found in the Holiday mini catalog. I purchased a glass block from Hobby Lobby one that you can put in Christmas lights. For my first time etching I am happy with how it turned out. I however am not good at making bows which is obvious in the picture. I think I will ask my friend Jill if she will help me make a respectable bow.

For my second and third try I used two sizes of glass jars that I picked up at Wal-Mart. I used the Jolliest Time of Year stamp set. These turned out fairly well also. I definately will be including this in my December craft night.

Autumn Splendor card

I wanted to make a card for someone I know whose husband had surgery and is having a tough recovery. I cased the layout for this card from http://www.stampinbythesea.com/ 7/29 posting. The final press embossing folder was used and really adds dimension to the card. I also wanted to use one of my new buttons from Stampin Up. The paper is vanilla and chocolate chip and the ink is chocolate chip. I really like how it turned out. I will keep her and her husband in my prayers.

Boxes, Boxes and more Boxes

I recently purchased the 12 days of Christmas tutorial from http://www.inkingidaho.blogspot.com/. I couldn't wait to make some of the boxes in the tutorial. I started with the bow box. She uses the Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP from the hoiday mini catalog. A couple of sheets of the paper is flocked and beautiful. But since I make everything in bulk and there are only two sheets of each paper in the package I wanted to try to make some of my own DSP. I used the snowflake from the Patterned Pines hostess stamp set in the holiday mini catalog. I stamped the image in white craft ink and then embossed with white embossing powder. I am always looking for ways to save some money and I like to show my craft group different ways to use the stamps for backgrounds.

I also love the bow she made. She has step by step instructions for this bow and all her projects. Of course I had to make two boxes since I am going to be keeping one.

The second box I made was the rectangle box. Again, Becky Roberts used the beautiful white flocked snowflake DSP and the Santa and reindeer from the Wandering Words stamp set. I made a box exactly like the one she did but I just realized that I haven't taken a picture (and my battery in the camera needs charging.) For a picture of hers you can visit the above website on October 3rd.

But it wasn't enough to make one rectangle box I had to make two more. For these boxes I used the Holiday Lineup stamp set. I have always loved this stamp set (but there is a lot of coloring).

Here are the boxes:

Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Heard from the Heart

Paper: Choc Chip, real red, vanilla, a bit of Merry Moments DSP

Ink: Timber Brown Stazon, SU markers

I made a card several days ago that matches this box (posted on October 20th.)

Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Christmas punch

Paper: Black, Ballet Blue, Whisper white

Ink: Black Stazon, SU markers- bashful blue, ballet blue

Other: Iridescent Ice EP, non SU snowflake embossing folder, sponging