Christmas in July Blog Hop!

 (approx. 2.75" x 2.5")

Good morning friends!  I'm so happy you are joining me today for a Christmas in July Blog Hop I am participating in with a few friends.  It's never too early to get started on Christmas cards and gifts.  I'm actually getting started much earlier than usual.  I've been working on some card gift sets for my co-workers. I just got 2 new Christmas stamp sets in from Sweet n' Sassy and Red Rubber Designs this week!  They both have poinsettia's in them.  I'm planning on putting together some samples so I can work on them on my 2 day drive to Colorado next week.  

Today I am featuring projects designed using files from The Cutting Cafe. If you need more Christmas inspiration then make sure you stop back by the week of July 28 to check out Christmas projects designed by the Design Team for The Cutting Cafe.  

Some of the participants of today's blog hop are offering give-aways, so make sure you complete the blog hop.  Read more about my give-away at the bottom of my post.

The first project showcases "Present Treat Box".  The Cutting files are available in WPC and SVG.  I hand cut mine using the PDF file.  I also used Gina K. Designs "The Magic of Christmas" stamp set  and Spellbinders "Layered Poinsettia" die set.

This little treat box was designed using "Stocking Box".  I don't really plan on giving anyone plastic silverware for Christmas, teehee.  I just wanted to give you an idea of the size.  I think    peppermint sticks would be perfect for this box.

Next up in the blog hop is 
Seleise

Here is a list of everyone in the hop :

Kat "Queen Kat" 

Melisa "Paperlicious Designs"  YOU ARE HERE 

Seleise "AmethystCat Designs"

Rita "Stamp Crazy - Strictly Amused"

Christy "Ten Crafty Fingers"

Stacy "Stacy's Cards" 

My Give-away last until Sun July 14 midnight.  Please share with your friends.  Just leave me a comment and your email address so I can contact you.  I will do a drawing for every 10 comments.  Names of bolg hop participates will be skipped.  Please do not leave more than one comment.  I will announce winners Tuesday (we will be on our way to Colorado, so I will do it whenever I have internet service).  If I have your email .... I will contact you.  If I do not have your email then winners have until Thur July 18th 8 am to contact me.  If I am unable to contact a winner ... I will draw another name.   I am leaving to go to Colorado through the July 25, so I want be able to mail prizes til the 26th.

Prize #1 (for first 10 commenters)

NEW Holiday Hospitality stamp set - Gina K. Designs

Prize #2  (for commenters 11-20)

NEW Delightful Daisies stamp set - Technique Tuesday

+ some ribbon

Prize #3 ( for commenters 21-30)

NEW Carnival Alpha stamp set ( small set ) - Pink Persimmon
+ some some ribbon

I will be posting again on Wednesday with my DT project for this weeks The Cutting Cafe Post.  It will be something perfect to give to friends as a gift!

Thanks so much for your comments and for stopping by!

hugs, Melisa

Altered Christmas Birdhouses

Good morning paper crafters!  Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  We had our son and his girlfriend over and really enjoyed spending time with them.  Here's a photo ....

I don't know about you ... but I"m still stuffed from all the food we ate.  We cooked on Friday instead of Thursday so the kids could spend Thursday with Jenna's family.  I tried a new recipe this year ... pumpkin cake.  I don't eat pie and we have always had pumpkin pie in the past.  So I thought a pumpkin cake would be a good idea .... or was it .... I can't stop eating it, teehee.   Now we are taking all the fall decor down and getting the Christmas decor up.

So today I want to share some altered Christmas birdhouses I created.  

I have a detailed step by step tutorial on how I created one of them posted with my Altered Valentine birdhouses HERE.  

All the patterned paper is from my stash.  A lot of the cardboard embellishments I used are from K& Company from last year.  The Holly Flourish die I used above is by Cheery Lynn Designs.  The birds used on the first 3 houses are stamp images.

The word "peace" above is by Maya Road and these chipboard Christmas Words are still available HERE.

Hope you are inspired to create some altered birdhouses of your own!

hugs, Melisa

Walking in a winter wonderland!

Good Morning card makers!  I love that Christmas carol.  I can't wait til thanksgiving day so I can start paling the Christmas music.  I have to admit .... I already started early in the month as I was working on a Christmas project.  DH snarled a little, teehee, asking what in the world was I doing playing Christmas music already.  I told him it's never to early for Christmas carols and ran him out of my studio!   Today I'm sharing a card I created for the Artistic Outpost November "referrel program".  Each month Artistic Outpost allows customers to link up their Artistic Outpost projects for a chance to win a prize package!  It's anything goes as long as you use their stamps.  For my project I used "Sleigh Ride"

Have a great day!!  Melisa

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Project Details

Stamp Set : Artistic Outpost "Sleigh Ride"

Patterned paper : Simple Stories "25 Days of Christmas - Journaling Cards"

Tickets : Making Memories

Poinsettia embellishments : K& Company ??

Watercolor crayons : Neocolor II

Trim red cardstock and journal card, ink edges and adhere together on card front.  Stamp image on watercolor paper and color with watercolor crayons.  Trim and adhere to card front.  Ink edges of tickets and adhere.  Embellish with paper poinsettia flowers.

Gina K. Designs "The Magic of Christmas"

Good Morning!  Today I'm sharing a couple of projects designed using "The Magic of Christmas" stamp set by Gina K. Designs.

The Gift bag and box are by Creative Cuts and More.

It's never too early to get started on Christmas projects!

Have a great day!

Melisa

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.

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Project Details

Gift box and gift bag : Creative Cuts and More

Ribbon : May Arts Silk Ribbon

Gems : Hero Arts

Tag: hand cut

Stamps: “The Magic of Christmas” GinaK Designs

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Crimson Red

Markers: Copic R29, R59

Tools : Deckled Scissors Fiskars

Christmas Gift Box :

1) Fold and adhere Creative Cuts and More (pre-cut and pre-scored) Square Box #10.

2) Wrap with ribbon and tie bow at top.

3) Hand cut tag using deckled scissors along the bottom of tag.

4) Stamp “joy”.  Create mask with Eclipse Masking Tape.  Stamp ornaments.

5) Color with Copic markers.  Ink edges.  Adhere to front of box.

Christmas Gift Bag :

1)      Stamp sled, snowflakes, and sentiment on front of Creative Cuts and More (pre-cut and pre-scored) Large Square Bag.

2)      Color sled with Copic markers.

3)      Embellish snowflakes with red jewels.

4)      Fold and adhere bag.
5)      Tie red bow around handles.

Card :

Stamps : GinaK “The Magic of Christmas”
Markers : Copic

Patterned Paper : The Girl’s Paperie
Glitter Glue : Stickles

Adhere front of card to back of a larger piece of red cardstock and then trim around the edges with deckled scissors. Trim cream cardstock and patterned paper and adhere to card front. Stamp ornaments on patterned paper and on white cardstock. Color, trim and adhere ornaments to card front. Stamp sleigh and snowflakes on a 2 ½” x 3 ¼” piece of cream cardstock. Adhere panel to red cardstock and trim around edges with deckled scissors. Adhere to card front. Stamp sentiment on a ¾” x 2 ½” piece of cream cardstock and adhere to red cardstock. Trim around edges with deckled scissors and adhere to card front. Add glitter glue to center of snowflakes and red dots on patterned paper.

Altered Candle for Christmas using Pink Persimmon stamps

Good afternnoon everyone.  I'm back today with another Pink Persimmon project I created a while back.  I actually added it to a gift basket that my co-workers were putting together.  So I hope whoever won the drawing is enjoying it!

Stamps :  "Holly and Mistletoe"

Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.

have a blessed day!
Melisa

You can view more of my Christmas themed projects HERE.

You can view more of my Pink Persimmon projects HERE.

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE

Christmas tag using Pink Persommon stamps

Hello paper crafters. 

"Merry Christmas Tree" by Pink Persimmon.  I simply stamped and embossed the image, then adhered velvet and lace along the bottom edge.  The image is so beautiful, you don't need much more!

So how are your holidays plans coming alone??  Do you have all your gifts wrapped??? I'm just wondering if any of you have any special Christmas recipes to share??   I need to get my grocery list together and get that part of my shopping done tomorrow.   I think I'm going to try and go at 6-7am, and avoid crowds. We don't eat a lot of sweets, so I really don't have that much cooking to do.   Does your family have a particular recipe that you cook up every year for Christmas??  I would love to hear about them if you do.

big holiday hugs to you all!

Melisa

You can view more of my Christmas themed projects HERE.

You can view more of my Pink Persimmon projects HERE.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Hello friends.  Just wanted to share some photo's of our tree's and wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  It was so nice to be in our home this year (last year we were in a rental) and get all the Christmas decorations out.  I had forgotten how much work it was though.  I missed my daughter helping me.  Nicole if you are reading this  ....  Christmas will not be the same without you this year.  I love you and miss you! 

 

"1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed... 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child" (Luke 2:1, 4-5).

"6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:6-7).

"8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night... 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:8,10).

 

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12).

 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

 

"15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger" (Luke 2:15-16).

 

 

If you have shared photo's of your tree, I would love to see them!  Just email me a link, or leave me a comment with a link!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas card with an Angel using Spellbinders Die

Good morning Paper Crafters!  Today I'm sharing another quick and easy Christmas card, well except for the coloring.  That probably takes longer than anything.  But the time and effort are worth it.

Have a fabulous day!

Melisa

 

You can view more of my Spellbinders projects HERE.

You can view more of my Christmas themed projects HERE.

 

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Project Details

Stamps : Layers of Color "Holly Angel" cling rubber art stamp, "Sentimental Banners" clear art stamp set.

Deckled scissors : Fiskars

Die : Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles

Grand Calibur

Embossing Folder : Cuttlebug Holly Ribbons

Glitter Glue : Stickles

Adhere card (4.25" x 5/5") front to back of larger red cardstock panel.  Trim around edges with deckled scissors.  Trim white cardstock 4.25" x 5.5" and 3" x 3 3/4".  Emboss using Big Shot and Holly Flourish embossing folder.  Cut decorative frame using Grand Calibur and Fleur de Lis Rectangle.  Layer these 3 as shown and add glitter glue around edges of smaller panel.  Set aside to dry.  Stamp Holly Angel and banner.  Color and trim.  Embellish angel wings with glitter using a 2-Way fine point glue pen.  Before applying glue, wipe wings with Embossing Magic or dryer sheet.  After sprinkling on glitter, use a tooth pick or paper poker to clean off glitter on any stamp lines.  Adhere angel and banner using pop dots in the middle.  Embellish with glitter glue around banner edges.

Christmas Gift Bag / Box with a Reindeer Image

****  OOPS!  so sorry.  I just realized what the title said when this one went out to everyone.  I just changed it.  Originally this post was set up for a LOC blog hop, but it was cancelled.  Sorry if it was misleading ***

 

Good Morning!  Today I am sharing a gift set designed for Stamper's Sampler Magazine and I'm proud to say, it made the cut!!  In fact I have several projects in the Oct / Nov issue.  I used Creative Cuts and More pre-scored / pre-cut die cuts and Layers of Color Reindeer Waltz.

Gotta vent for just a minute ....  I have to go to my husband's Work Christmas Dinner.  Notice I said "have", teehee.  This is going to be torture for me, seriously.  I don't know anyone, and I'm not exactly a social butterfly.  I'm happy in my studio creating and could go DAYS, without ever leaving the house.  My favorite get togethers are when someone comes over to craft with me ...  and I don't have to leave the house.  Say a prayer for me, I know I'm a grown women, but I have a little social anxiety.

How is the Christmas shopping and putting up the decorations going??  We started putting up the decorations the day after Thanksgiving.  I have 1 tree done.  I have a second tree in the diningroom I have to put up.  I found the CUTEST christmas salad plates really cheap at Walmart.  They have little holly branches and birds on them!  I will try to take photo's soon and share.

Have a great day!

hugs, Melisa

You can view more of my Spellbinders projects HERE.

You can view more of my Christmas themed projects HERE.

You can view all of my Treat Boxes / Bags HERE.
You can view all of my Container / Gift Boxes HERE.

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Project Details

Christmas Gift Bag

Stamps : Layers of Color "Reindeer Waltz" (deer)

Creative Cuts and More - Square Bag 01
Spellbinders : Fluer de Lis Doily Accent
Rub-ons : Making Memories (sentiments & flower)
Ribbon : Creative Impressions

Fold pre-scored corners of gift bag and adhere.  Stamp reindeer image on beige cardstock x2.  Trim label with one of the reindeers as shown using Spellbinders die. Hand cut all of second reindeer out except for antlers and adhere over the reindeer as shown. Apply rub-ons and adhere to front of bag. Tie handle with ribbon.

Christmas Gift Box

Stamps : Layers of Color “Reindeer Waltz” (deer)

Creative Cuts and More - Square Box #10

Rub-ons : Making Memories (sentiment & flower)

Hand cut tag

Ribbon : Creative Impressions

Fold pre-scored corners of gift box and adhere. Hand cut small tag, stamp reindeer and add
rub-ons. Wrap box with ribbon and add tag.

Christmas cards with Poinsettia images using Spellbinders Dies

Good Morning!  I'm here today to share a bunch of cards I have made using Layers of Color Poinsettia Frame.  This cling art stamp is compatible with Spellbinders Labels Sixteen.  I also used

Fluer de Lis Accents.  My sentiment is from the  Happy Wishes clear art stamp set.  I noticed that I had 2 cards using this set I had never shared.  I added 3 others from previous post at the bottom.  I also realized I have not been blogging as much as I had planned and I still have more Christmas projects to share.  So I"m going to try and use the next week to blitz you with Christmas and then start posting some Valentine projects.

You can view more of my projects that I have used Spellbinders Dies on HERE.

You can view more of my Christmas themed projects HERE.

Previously posted Poinsettia Frame cards :

Thanks for stopping by!
hugs
Melisa

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Project Instructions

Card #1

Stamps : Layers of Color Poinsettia Frame cling art stamp and Happy Wishes art stamp set

Ink : Tsukineko Momento Tuxedo Black

Markers : Copic

Spellbinders Nestibilities Labels Sixteen and Fluer de Lis Doily Accents with the Grand Calibur

Patterned Paper : Basic Grey (red), Bo-Bunny (green), and Prima (off white)

Glitter Glue : Stickles

Buttons : white pearl - Dress It Up, glittered bird : Favorite Findings - Joanns

Ribbon : Offray

Trim off white cardstock 4 ¾ x 5 ¾”. Trim red patterned paper 4 3/8” x 4 ¼” and adhere to green patterned paper. Trim around edges of red patterned paper creating a green border.  Adhere to off white panel. Cut / emboss green patterned paper using Spellbinders Fluer de Lis  Doily border and corner accents. Adhere decorative border across panel as shown. Tie a know  in center of off white ribbon and adhere across card as shown, tucking ends under panel.  Adhere panel to front of card. Cut loop off back of off white button and adhere over knot in  center of ribbon. Stamp Poinsettia Frame on off white patterned paper and color with markers.

Stamp sentiment. Adhere to front of card. Embellish with glitter glue and glittered bird.

Card #2

Stamps : Acanthus Leaves and Touch of Elegance art stamp sets,

Poinsettia Frame cling art stamp by Layers of Color

Ink : Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, VersaMark, Momento

Bamboo Leaves by Tsukineko

Cardstock : Bazzill Glitter Glue : Stickles

Spellbinders : Labels Sixteen with the Grand Calibur

Sentiment : Flower Soft

Cut brown cardstock 5 ½” x 5 ½” and adhere to front of card.   Cut Cream cardstock 5 ¼” x 5 ¼” and stamp acanthus leaves in green ink. Ink edges. Stamp squares from Touch of Elegance in   brown ink and then cut diagonally to create corners. Adhere to corners, add pearls, and glitter glue. Wrap brown ribbon around center of panel vertically and adhere to back side.  Adhere panel to front of card. Stamp Acanthus Leaves with VersaMark on cream

cardstock. Then stamp Poinsettia Frame over this. Stamp Poinsettia Frame on old book paper. Cut the frane on the cream cardstock using Spellbinders Labels Sixteen and Grand Calibur and ink edges. Adhere to red cardstock and trim around edges. Color the leaves green and border circles brown. Color Poinsettia flowers on the text paper then cut around the petals. Paper piece these on top of the cream panel. Adhere panel to front of card. Layer sentiment as shown. Add brown bow.

Free Teacup template!

Good Morning!  Today Layers of Color is having a Tea Party and we hope you will join us!

If you have arrived from Linda's Blog, then you are in the correct place.  If not, you might want to start at the Layers of Color Blog HERE.  It's a circular hop, so you will end up back here.

My project today uses a hand drawn teacup template I designed.  Thank you so much Laura for turning it into a PDF file for me!!  With this template you can create a teacup shaped card, or a teacup shape to put on the front of a card.  So many LOC stamps would have been fun to use on this, but I'm working on my Christmas Cards right now. 

This template is free for you to use, but I ask that you not post the file anywhere else.  Please link to my blog.  If you loose this post, then you can always find my templates on the side-bar near the bottom of my blog.  Not only is the link to the template there, but a link to any projects I have created using the template is there as well.  This template will also be available over at LOC.  Thank you!

Download the Teacup Card Template PDF HERE.  Right click, then click print.

Your next stop in this hop is

NINA! 

Hop on over, or stay for a few more minutes and review my step by step tutorial.

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Project Details

Let me start out by saying you do not have to cut the pattern as shown on the file.  It might be difficult to get both side to match if you do.  The easier way is to print the PDF onto sturdy cardstock and then cut out 1/2 the pattern to use as a template.

I decided I wanted the bottom of my teacup and handle to be red and thought I came up with an easy tutorial to accomplish this without you have to cut the pattern from a seperate piece of red cardstock.  I'll let you be the judge!

Start with a white card. 

Adhere a piece of red cardstock on the inside of the card.  I used Aleene's Tachy glue.  I wanted to make sure it was glued down, so that when I started cutting, the pieces didn't seperate.  Just keep in mind that wet glue can warp your card, so a little goes a long way.  I scribbled it all over the back of the red cardstock and then adhered it inside the card.  Let it dry.

Lay the teacup pattern you created over the back of the card and trace around the edges lightly with a pencil.  Cut around the outside.  Do not cut the inside of the handle. 

back of card

Flip it over.  Sketch a guideline / cut line  along the side and bottom of card.  The photo only show my sketch line on the side, I forgot to include the bottom.  Sorry.    Unfold the card.  Cut off the handle and bottom of the cup from the front of the card along your sketch lines. 

front of card



Now you will be able to see the red handle and bottom of cup from the front of the card.  Flip it back over and continue cutting the inside of the handle.  I started with a x-acto knife to cut the center out, but I can't get smooth cut lines with it, so I finished with a pair of scissors.  Cuticle scissors work great for cutting small curved area's.   I was able to see a little white cardstock around the edges, so I used a red marker to color around the edges.

This photo is of the card opened up, back of card on left.  See how the front of the card doesn't have the bottom of the cup or handle.  Slide the front of the card into an embossing folder.  TIP : Pull the handle above the template if possible.  I didn't and I ended up with a slight line across my handle from the edge of the embossing folder.  You might also try adding another piece of paper across the top of the back of the cup, or you will get that same line across the back of the card. 

Now embellish your teacup card!  I used one of Nina's labels from her newly released "Elegant Labels" art stamp set (stamped in red).  The labels in this set are compatible with Spellbinders Nestibilities Labels Five, Labels Ten, and Labels Sixteen.  All available over at the LOC Boutique.  Mine is hand cut because I don't have Labels Five. 

The sentiment is from "Sentamental Banners" art stamp set.  Dove and holly images are from the "Glad Tidings" art stamp set.  I cut them out of the wreath image.  And the holly images at the top are from the "Christmas Blessings" art stamp set.

I think you can see how I added lots of glitter (Stampendous Ultra Fine White ) ....  around the cup edges, all over the doves, around banner, and around the edge of the label image.  I use a 2-Way Glue Pen to added glitter.  TIP :  If you get glue and glitter on your image lines, then quickly use a tooth pick or paper piercer to scratch it off the lines. 

I hope you enjoy creating your own teacup card!  I have another one already done and will be sharing very soon.  I don't have the step by step photo's done yet.  It is much easier to create than this one ...  I promise, teehee!

And as always, if you were inspired by this tutorial, I would love to see your creation.  Just leave me a link in the comment section or email me.

big hugs,

Melisa

You can view all of my Tea / Teacup related projects HERE

You can view all of my Shaped Cards HERE.

You can view all of my Christmas project HERE.