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Soft Suede and Blue - for Christmas too!

While browsing some of my favorite blogs, I stumbled on a Christmas card made with Bashful Blue, Whisper White and Soft Suede.  The colors were so calm and elegant that I decided to try it myself.  This is the card I designed and we made it at Stamp Club last week:

Bashful Blue card stock
Whisper White card stock
Soft Suede card stock
Northern Flurry embossing folder and Big Shot
Serene Snowflakes stamp set
Snow Swirled stamp set
Bashful Blue ink pad
Soft Suede ink pad
Bashful Blue 5/8" satin ribbon (not currently available) but Whisper White or Early Espresso would work.

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

Santa Bottle Topper

My friend and fellow-stamper Sandy Hancock sent this idea to me. I think this makes a wonderful gift to give when you are invited to a dinner party, holiday party or other event where you don't want to show up empty-handed.  The cute bottle topper will fit a Sparkling Cider, Wine, Champagne or other similar shaped bottle.

I CASEd her idea and only made very minor changes.  Since I did not have the same "For You" stamp, I substituted the "Very Merry" stamp from the Short and Sweet stamp set. I also chose not to stamp it on Santa's beard, but to the side instead.  Here is my version:

 

I think adding a knot made out of Real Red satin ribbon "ties" the whole thing together, don't you?

Here is a peek at what the back of the bottle topper looks like. This is the part that fits over the neck of the bottle.

Santa Bottle Topper Tutorial
This is a photo of all the pieces you will be using:

Start with the large piece of Real Red card stock. It measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". (This is a quarter sheet of card stock). Score it at 2 1/2" and fold on scored line.

On the 2 1/2" end, use the 1 3/8" circle punch to make hole. You should center it left-to-right and push it up as far as it will go.

Punch, and it will look like this. Set aside.

Take the Whisper White piece of card stock, that measures 4" x 2 3/4" and place it in the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder as shown. Then run it through your Big Shot.

Stamp the "Very Merry" in black ink on your snowflake piece. Set aside.

Take the Real Red card stock piece that measures 2" x 4" and make a pencil mark at one end, at the center (this will be at 1")

Now cut  from the pencil mark down to the opposite end at the corner. And then again from the pencil mark to the opposite end at the other corner.  You will end up with a triangle.  You can do this with a ruler, pencil and scissors.  Or you can use your Paper cutter as shown:

Your triangle should look like this:

Punch all the remaining pieces out. You need:
1 Whisper White Scallop circle (2 3/8")
1 Pink Pirouette Scallop circle (2 3/8")
1 Whisper White Word Window
2 Whisper White circles (3/4")
1 Pink Pirouette circle (1/2")
1 Whisper White circle (1/2")
2 Basic Black circles (1/4")  - the Owl punch has "eyes" this size

Next is the assembly of Santa: Fold the white scallop circle in half. Attach to pink scallop circle using SNAIL adhesive. Be sure to carefully match up the scallops.

Attach this to the red triangle.  The triangle will become Santa's shirt and hat at the same time.

Next, finish the hat by adding glue and glitter to the Word Window piece and the 1/2" white circle.

 Attach to hat:

Make Santa's moustache. To make this easier, try this trick - stick the 3/4" circles on the sticky part of a Post-It note. This gives you something to hold on to.  Then, using the 3/4" circle punch, punch out a "slice" of each circle:

You will be left with 2 little "slices" on your Post It.  These are Santa's whiskers.  Discard the other pieces that were punched.

Attach moustache, nose and eyes:

Assemble. I used SNAIL adhesive to attach the snowflake background onto red base. I used Sticky Strip to attach Santa.

Last step is very small but makes a BIG difference. Use a white gel pen to make accents on eyes and nose.  Then finally, add a rhinestone gem to the snowflake on the right.

You may want to add a knot of Real Red satin ribbon on the neck of the bottle you are using. I seems to finish it well:

Materials List:
Real Red card stock (#102482)
Whisper White card stock (#100730)
Pink Pirouette card stock (#111351)
Basic Black card stock (#119922)
Short and Sweet stamp set (#115060)
Basic Black ink pad (#101179)
1 3/8" circle punch (#119860)
2 3/8" Scallop circle punch (#118874)
Word Window punch (#119857)
3/4" circle punch (#119873)
1/2" circle punch (#229869)
1/4" circle punch (the Two-Step Owl Punch has circles this size) (#119074)
"Northern Flurry" Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#120902)
Big Shot  (#113439)
2 Way Glue Pen (#100425)
Dazzling Diamonds glitter (#102023)
White gel pen (#105021)
Paper cutter (#104152) & Scoring Blade  (#104154)
Basic Rhinestones (#119246)
SNAIL Adhesive (#104332)
Sticky Strip (#104294)
Real Red 5/8" satin ribbon (to tie on bottle)

Anti-Bacterial Gel holder

This darling Anti-Bacterial gel holder can be decorated any way you wish and for whichever holiday or special occasion.  What a cute little gift or party favor to send home with your guests!

Here is the inside:

Step by Step Tutorial:
Start with 2 pieces of card stock. One measures 10" x 3" and the other 6" x 1 1/2"

Score the large piece at 1", 2", 5 1/2" and 6 1/2". 

Fold as shown, then set aside:

 Score the small piece, (along the long edge) at 1/2", 1 1/2", 4 1/2", 5 1/2".

Now turn the card stock and score at 1/4" and 1 1/4".

Use Bone Folder to make crisp creases on all score lines.

Use scissors to cut out 4 corners as shown:

Use Large Oval Punch (#119855) to make opening in center section. Punch it as close as possible to the score line near the bottom.

Now insert the Oval Punch again and slide it up so it is as close as possible to the score line at the top. You will be taking out an additional sliver, just to make the oval a little larger.

Your oval should now look like this:

Apply Sticky Strip to the 4 outside edges as shown (it's a little hard to see the red Sticky Strip on the Cherry Cobbler card stock):

Peel off one long edge of Sticky Strip and attach to the inside of  bottom lip of the large piece:

Here is another view:

Peel off both short ends of Sticky Strip, and attach the sides:

Peel off final edge of Sticky Strip and attach to large piece to complete:

You may now put the Anti-Bacterial gel in place. It will be a little snug, but that's good - it helps hold it in place.

Use stamps, DSP, embellishments etc. to decorate as desired. This one has been decorated for Christmas:

Inside view:

Materials List:

Cherry Cobbler card stock (#119685)

Jolly Holiday Designer Series paper (#117159)

Oval Large punch (#119855)

Scallop Oval punch (#119856)

Bone Folder (#102300)

Season of Joy stamp set (#110384)

Delightful Decorations stamp set (#116517)

Old Olive ink pad (#102277)

Sticky Strip (#104294)

SNAIL Adhesive (#104332)

Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430)

Paper Trimmer and Scoring Blade

Credits:  I saw this project at Pink Buckaroo Designs.  Erica decorated hers for Halloween. Fabulous!

I purchased Anti-Bacterial gel hand sanitizer at Bath & Bodyworks. They have cute Christmas ones, but I thought they smelled horrible! So I chose 3 pleasant scents that come in green bottles, which still match really well for Christmas.

Autumn Skinny Cello bag Treat

I wanted to show you the Autumn version of the Skinny Cello bag treat created by Christine Cornelius. My photo does not do it justice. The cello bags are not from Stampin' Up but everything else is.
She used Autumn Spice DPS (in the Holiday Mini Catalog), Old Olive card stock, Cajun Craze card stock and these Punches:  1 1/4" circle,  1 3/8" circle,  Scallop Circle.

I plan to copy these EXACTLY for my little Autumn treats for friends and family.

Here is a photo of my Halloween version (previously posted):

And Christine's Christmas version (previously posted):

Swaps from Stamp Club

Last night was another great time at Stamp Club!  I wanted to post photos of the items that were made for the Swap. I hope you are inspired!

2 Versions of this creative card.  I will try to get the directions and add to a later post.

Christmas version of the Skinny Cello bag treats!

This projects looks like a front door with a wreath on it, and it actually holds a Jumbo size Candy Bar.

My Swap was this Tea Light Box.

Holds 4 tea light candles.

Step by step directions for the Tea Light Box will be in a future Post.
Thanks for stopping by!
Julie