Pinecones for your tree

Even if the gift inside the box is store-bought, having a little home-made topper can make a good present, extra-special. These pinecone ornaments are just perfect for that. I learned to make them ages ago, and decided to add a few new ones to my collection this year. For the ornament above, I used paper from Bella Blvd.'s new Winter Wonder collection, called Ski Slopes.

To make your own, you will need...

-a small styrofoam egg

-pins

-paper (or ribbon) cut into 1" wide strips, then cut into 1 1/2" long

pieces. You will use about six, 1 inch strips.

-ribbon

-tacky glue

Fold the rectangles of paper to a point (not true triangles), as seen in the photo. Place each folded paper onto the egg, pinning at the two top corners.

The key to getting the pinecone shape started, is to pin 3 of the folded rectangles so their bottom points meet at the bottom of the egg (you can see this in the picture below). Then, you just keep going around pinning the pieces at each corner, covering the pins of the row underneath as you go.

Once you get to the top, slide the pins under the fold (see below).

Loop some ribbon on a pin (I used a pearl-topped headpin for this), making your first loop a big one so you can use it for hanging on the tree. Dip the pin in some tacky glue before sticking it into the top of the pinecone.

Here are a few I made with ribbon. They are hanging on the tree, just ready and waiting if I need to attach them to the top of a package.

I hope you have all of your shopping done and can take some time to sit back and relish in some holiday memories as they happen. Make sure you get some photos too!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Before and After Gift Bag

If you are like me, you don't like to throw away those cute shopping bags that stores give you this time of year. The problem is, I don't want the store's GIANT logo across the bag if I am going to give it to someone else (especially if the gift inside isn't from that store). So, I give you before and after.

First, I used some Distress Inks to "grunge" up the bag a little big. The white was just a little too stark for the images I was going to be adding. I then covered the logo with hunter green cardstock that I punched with a border punch on all 4 sides (this is an adorable Fiskars border punch with a row of evergreens. It's from last year's Limited Winter Edition.). I used some white dabber paint to make snow on the trees. Lastly, I used Versamark ink to stamp on some shadow-effect snowflakes.

I cut out some images from an old Die Cuts with A View Christmas pack. I cut out each image twice and trimmed one. With some pop-dots underneath, I raised the smaller image and affixed it to the larger one to give it a shadow-box effect. I dabbed on some white paint around all of the edge and embellished with Stickles. Everything looks better with some Stickles, don't you think?

 

Now, here's wishing I can find a great gift to put inside! 

Christmas Journal~

Everyone is talking about the December Daily with Ali Edwards { fabulous}~well this is my version.   It is a composition notebook covered with sticky back canvas.  I used the November add on kit by The Paper Bakery to make mine.  I have needed a place to keep track of sizes of feet , little peeps and what I have bought in previous years~such as doll cloths, build~a~bear outfits and such.  I think this will work perfect!!!

The kit came with all of these cool embellishments. So it was easy to put a pocket on the inside for receipts just in case I have to do a return.

Hope you enjoyed this journal and I will see ya soon!!!! by: C. Mercer

Just a little something...

During the holiday season I always think of people that I would like to show my appreciation to with a little gift, but my checkbook doesn't feel the same way.  I realized I could make something, but it really needed to be something that was quick to make.  What about TAGS!  With the popularity of gift bags why not give tags? I know that I rarely gift wrap anymore because the bags are so convenient and truthfully I hate to gift wrap.

You can make tags for any occasion.  Just because my examples are all Christmas doesn't mean you have to create Christmas tags too.  A great plus about creating tags is that you can use your "leftover" goodies that you have been saving.  If you are like me you save stuff thinking that at some point you will use that one sticker left on the sheet, or the goofy die cut flower that you have never been able to figure out what to do with. 

Most of my tag that I'm sharing were done using digital stamps.  Because I LOVE to color with my Copics most of my tags include a colored image.  I also like to use Glossy Accents and Stickles to add sparkle and shine to my holiday tags so you will see these products throughout too.  These tags feature stamps from Dilly Beans Stamps.

My next group of tags are a little more manly.  The center one was created using a Tiddly Inks digital stamp, but the others were created using stickers and diecuts. You can create tags quickly if you use pre-made embellishments plus you still get that hand-made look.  They make a perfect gift too.

My last three tags are snowmen.  The middle snowman is a stamp from Hambo Stamps.  The outside ones are from Dilly Beans Stamps.  Most of my tag bases are cut out of card stock, however a few are Bazzill pre-made tags, which I love.   You can easily save time by using a pre-made tag as a template to cut your tags from. 

All you need is an hour or two and your leftover stash.  You can create a bunch of one-of-a-kind tags to give just to show you care.  Your checkbook will thank you for it!

Hello friends! A friend of mine wrote a poem about Christmas which was published in "The International Library of Poetry". I wanted to share this with you all... Let's not forget the true meaning of Christmas. Happy holidays everyone!

Meaning of Christmas

This is the time to celebrate, but no one has patience, no one can wait.
Lines are long, sales-people are tired. We want that gift our loved ones admires.
A doll for Susie. A shirt for Dan. A truck for my husband. for me a mini-van.
My son, he wants a game for the computer. My daughter just wants a boyfriend to suit her. So after work I'm off to the mall with my bottle of Tylenol.
My head is pounding. My feet are sore, but somehow I'll make it to one more store.
The day of Christmas is finally here. I see the ones that I love so dear. I look at my family with hearts aglow. They look back at me and we all know, the meaning of Christmas is not just in giving, but what's in our hearts and how we are living. God gave us a gift, the birth of his son and the love that God has is for everyone.

by Jodye Gottlieb

Make your own Holiday cards!

This year, I decided to make my own cards rather than buy them and I am going to share with you how you make your very own in no time! Forget about spending $1 per card and make your own!

Here's what I used:
Plain White Envelopes by Staples
Photo paper by Staples
Papers and embellishments
Black pen by Creative MemoriesStraight Trimmer by Creative Memories
Score blade by Creative Memories
Foam dots by Creative Memories
Tape runner by Creative Memories

Using your trimmer, cut a piece of pattern paper to 8-3/4x6-1/2".
Score the pattern paper at 4 1/2".
Attach a 4x6 photo to the front of the card.
Attach the embellishments as shown.





Once you've created the card, scan the card, crop out the background. Print the cards on photo paper and mail them out! This is a quick and easy solution for your Christmas cards and will only cost you about 10 cents per card after you buy your supplies, rather then spending a great deal of money on boring cards.

I love how my card turned out and I hope I inspired you in some way with this class!

CHRISTMAS and KIDS

I used to think that Christmas is really just for kids - - it's all about toys and candies and gifts. I look at them and see how happy they are when they receive and open their gifts - - you can literally see their eyes widen and well up from too much excitement!!!

My view changed when I got my own kids. Suddenly, I feel that the joy in giving gifts and kisses makes you look forward to Christmas. While I still make sure that they still get their own loot of toys and candies - - I tell them that what's most important is love and family and faith in this season.

I made a layout using papers from Upsy Daisy Designs with that thought in mind and I thought I'd share it with you here:

Supplies: Papers, Brads: Upsy Daisy Designs, Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Stickers: Doodlebug Design, Chibpboard: American Crafts, Paint: Pebeo, Specialty Glue, Liquid Pearls: Ranger Industries, Pen: Uni-ball.

Why not create a layout today and share with us what you think of Christmas? I hope I inspired you to play!!!

Have fun creating,
janis

Countdown to Christmas 2010

Seriously...there is an actual countdown going on right now. As I write this post, the official countdown is 107 sleeps, 6 hours, 4 minutes and 27 seconds. Don't believe me? See it right HERE. Told you so! Are you scared yet?

I've always planned to make a handmade advent calendar. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm determined to make one this year. There are some adorable ideas online. Here are a few of my favorites:

This adorable advent garland from the Bella Boulevard blog;

Super cute wallhanging featuring the Cottage Christmas collection by Imaginisce;

Yummy little muffin tin countdown from Alisha Gordon for American Crafts;

Oh-my-cuteness mini gift tins by Kelleigh Ratzlaff;

Cookie sheet advent calendar by starrgirl17 (I just can't get enough of Sassafras Lass' Life at the Pole collection!);

and lastly, Danni Reid's charming countdown drawers are perfect for little treats.

I hope that these fabulous advent calendar ideas spark your creativity. Will this be the year that you make an advent calendar for your family? Tell you what, we'll do it together, OK?

Merry Christmas from ScrapStreet

and a very Happy and Peaceful New Year to you all. As promised here is a little treat for you at Christmas. Here are 6 plastic digi tiles in PNG format with vintage christmas scenes on. Use them on your last minute cards, gift tags, print them onto fabric or sticky labels or just pop them onto your layouts.



You can get them here. We hope you enjoy them and stay tuned to the blog as there may be a little New Year surprise as well!

Winter Wishes

...for you all now we are in the chillier months of what remains of the year. With Christmas to look forward to, our free digital kit this month is ideal! A kit with some soft and gentle colors and a dash of Christmas and winter cheer. With 14 papers and a bundle of elements, this kit will keep your winter evenings occupied scrapping or making cards?

You can get your copy here in our store
Here are some more layouts and a card from our Creative Artist Team and guests.

Jane has scrapped a family tradition of taking photos in front of the fire with stockings hanging up.

Terri has scrapped a heartwarming remembrance photo of her mother and herself at church for Christmas 2004 .

I did a little greeting card that you could print out ready done onto card or print the papers and elements in stages and make your card the paper way with glue and scrappy bits!

Don't forget to check out what else we have in store for you...... and check the blog later this month for a little treat for you for Christmas!

Holiday Season

Well I am getting in the holiday season, how about you? I have been busy designing some christmas stuff at ScrapStreet. I thought I would share with you....

This is a preview of my latest christmas kit called Merry Little Christmas. Fun, bright and cute!

and to celebrate... a little freebie for you, just enough to do a page or make some cards.

Get it here and don't forget to stop by the store and check out all our new stuff...