Cardabilities sketch 17 DT Reveal

Hi friends,
Welcome to another great, brand spankin' new Cardabilities sketch reveal :) This was a really fun sketch to work with as I don't think I've done banners on my cards before.
Here's sketch 17 for ya:

My card: "Here's looking at you, kid"

I punched out circles to create the snowman & layered each circle with dimensionals. The papers are Figgy Pudding by Basic Grey on Aqua Mist & Hawaiian Shores cardstock (PTI.) I used the banner die from My Favorite Things to create the pennants.
Here's a closer peek:

I used bitty stickers for the "Let it" & then went over it with my Viva Decor Glitter liner. I used mini pearls to spell out "SNOW." I thought the little pearls looked like little snowballs :)

We would love for you to join us on this fun sketch! You've got till the 29th! Please hop on over to the Cardabilities blog & check out the fabulous ideas the DT created with this sketch.

Thanks so much for peeking today.
Gotta Go!

Godiva Inspired box Tutorial

Hi there friends,
Sorry for my absence. I "mistakingly" downloaded the Kindle app for my iphone yesterday cuz I had a free book download & decided I would use it for Breaking Dawn (Twilight Series) which I hadn't read. While waiting for dinner to cook, I decided I'd get a chapter or 2 in to see if I'd even like the Kindle. Afterall, I kinda like the feeling of a book in my hand & I wasn't sure I'd like reading a book on my iphone. Well, that 30 minutes turned into 5 hours as I couldn't put it down until my phone died! I charged it over night & when I awoke this morning I started reading again :) So this evening I finished it! So that's my reason for not getting this tut out to ya earlier. Blame it on Edward! And now I'm in love with reading on my iphone!

Anyhoo, here's the tut for the simple version of the Godiva inspired box.

For the box: (click on any pic to enlarge)
you'll need a sheet of cardstock/ Patterned paper cut at: 8" x 9 1/2"
On the 8" side score at 2 3/4" and 5 1/4"

On the 9 1/2" side, Score at 2 3/4" and 6 3/4"

Cut on score lines as shown & cut along the edges of the tabs at an angle. You'll also want to trim the ends of the tabs (about 1/4") as shown. 

Add adhesive to the tabs and assemble your box:

 Now let's work on the wrap:
You'll need a sheet of CS or DP measuring 4" x 12".
Score at 5 1/2":

 Add adhesive to the back of your box:

adhere the longer end of the wrap so that it's flushed with the bottom edge:

 Side view:

I trim the corners:

Then wrap a ribbon around the box to embellish it, but it also serves as the closing mechanism. I tuck the front tab behind the ribbon (so tie that ribbon pretty snug.)

That's it! Easy peasy right???
Here's the finished sample I posted for the hop:

To clarify: No, you do NOT need to be a follower to enter into my blog candy. I am tickled (& truly humbled) at anyone who wants to follow my blog, but please do so if YOU WANT to. There are no strings for the candy- well, only one: leave a comment- that's it! :)

I will post the other 2 versions next time. It's too much for my brain right now :( I've downloaded Brimstone by Preston & Child (2 of my fav authors!) a book I've been dying to read for a looooong time! If you like Mysteries & Thrillers (and generally getting the pants scared out of you :) you'll luuuuuv them!

Thanks so much for peeking today. Hope this tut helps with your handmade packaging for gift giving & as my good friend Sandra says, Keep it sweet & always keep it semi-homemade :)
Gotta Go!

YMH Holiday Hop

Happy Friday Friends!
Today is the day for YMH's first Handmade Holiday Hop!

 Hope you've hopped from the uber fab Jess's blog, but if not, no worries, you can start at the YMH Design blog so you don't miss any gift ideas.

The YMH designers have created some handmade gift ideas just in time for this holiday season! Before I share my project with you, I wanted to reveal the FAAAAAAB prize package one lucky friend can win.
Here it is:

 Wowzers! Look at all that bloggy goodness!!!
The deets (cuz I know ya want them ;) This prize package includes:

Snow Fun kit from Pebbles
Set of Pebbles Chalks
Pebbles Chalk Eraser tool
Cuttlebug Embossing folder
Prima Glistening Vines
Prima Poinsettia
Prima Jenuine Collection tissue/crochet flowers
Prima Say it in Studs and Pearls embellishments
Imaginsice Snowy Jo Stocking stamp set
Imaginsice Snowy Jo Happy Holiday stamp set
Imaginisce Snowy Jo Believe stamp set
Webster's Pages Petite Papers Waiting for Santa/ Sweet Season combo pad
Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze in Champagne

But WAIT there's more! For another chance to win a special surprise item, visit our Facebook Fan page and "like" us, then post a comment (like: "Karli sent me from the blog hop" or "I found you on the Handmade Holiday gift hop") to be entered to win.


But because you know I like things that come in 3s- I'm also adding to the blog candy goodness with my own "My Favorite Things" Surprise package!  

Move over Oprah cuz this is the crafter's edition! Phew! That's a lot of bloggy goodness!  

So now on to my project....
I wanted to create an easy, inexpensive, but fitting for the holidays gift. I actually came up with 3 different versions (see how I like 3 ;) An easy version, a version that takes more work but has individual pockets, and a Cricut version- where I used my Cricut for most of it. I thought I'd share the easy version today. 
Here's what I came up with:

 and here are the innies:

 This gift package includes a hot chocolate packet (Caramel Chocolate, if you must know;),  a baggie of mini marshmallows, and my world famous, award-winning, culinary fabulosity known as---> my pumpkin chocolate chip cookie! Little piece of heaven, I tell ya!

Here's how everything fits in the package:

 And a side view:

To create the elegant look for this project, I used the Windsor Collection from SEI. The gold foil gives it that look of elegance, I think :) I wrapped gold ribbon around the box, tied a bow & added a Prima flower I sprayed with Irridescent Gold glimmer mist. It gives it this beautiful gold sheen. All of these can be found at the YMH Store, of course!
 
The inspiration for this box came from a beautifully wrapped $80 box of Godiva chocolates I saw at the mall. I decided to recreate the look of the box without the $80 price tag. This box will cost a sliver of a fraction to make and you made it yourself in minutes!

Yes, I see a hand in the back.
Q: Will I provide a tutorial?
Why yes, of course!
Another hand...
Q: Will I show the other 2 versions?
By all means! So be sure to peek back for the tut & the other versions later :)

Soooooo... be sure to leave a comment on my blog, the rest of the DT, and YMH for your chance to win some blog candy goodness! You've got til Sunday to play along :)

Hope you liked my gift idea :) Now, I'm going to lead you to the Creatively Fabulous Kim's blog for her great gift idea!
Thanks for hopping by!

Thanks

Hello friends,
Today, I have a card I made for our school's secretary. Last Friday was our staff Christmas party and our administrative assistant offered & welcomed us all to her beautiful home. I wanted to thank her for all the trouble she took to decorate her house and prepare everything so that we could enjoy the party!
Here's the card I made for her:

I used the Jovial papers from Basic Grey (yes, again!) cuz I love them! The poinsettias came from the floral dept at Mikes- trim & adhere---> way easy! The sentiment is Signature Greetings by PTI heat embossed with gold detail powder on a Nesties Label 14 die.

The party was so much fun! There was so much food (as it was a pot luck) and it was all yummy :) One difference I noticed between the elementary Christmas parties (that I'm used to) and the High School Christmas party is that the HS teachers reeeeally like to drink! Wowzers and it isn't apple cider ;) I was good though & only had a sip of wine. After all, I'm barely old enough to drink & I just didn't want to end up on an installment of "Teachers Gone Wild!" ;) Hee! Hee! 

Thanks so much for peeking today!
Gotta Go!

Coming Soon...

Hi friends,

Are you looking for some Handmade Holiday Gift Ideas??? Then you're in luck! YMH will have it's very first Blog Hop featuring some fab ideas for uber cute gifts created by the Design Team members :) The fun will begin this Friday, December 10th at the YMH design team blog ---> Here. Did I mention there's candy involved... :)
Stay tuned for more deets!

Anyone for Anya

Hi friends,
I think I'm right under the wire for this week's challenge at Anyone for Anya.
Here's the sketch:

 Here's my card:

The image is Beanie Anya from the Greeting Farm. Isn't she cuuuute?! She's colored with Copics. I used papers from Bo Bunny's Winter Joy collection. I'm so loving these non-traditional Christmas colors! Instead of matting layers with cardstock, I thought I would add Stickles around the edges instead. I'm sure it's hard to see, but between each layer of DP, there's a layer of Stickles- so this card has plenty o' sparkle! I'm going to add the greeting under the purple Christmas tree. I would loooove a purple Christmas tree! I think it would look amazing :) The snowflakes are MS punches.

This card also makes it for the challenge at Stamp something- make a Christmas card. I have a feeling they'll have loads of entries ;)

Thanks for peeking today!
Gotta Go!

Boxing for Christmas Gifts

 Hi ya friends,
I thought I'd pop in to share a little somethin' I made for my Christmas gift exchange at work.
What's in the box??? I wonder..., yup, I wonder...

 Yes, it is my cake box! (the cleverness of you ;), but there's no cake in there.
 give up???
Oh, how about I just show you!
Here it is:

It opens up to reveal a nice, hot Starbucks Latte with plenty o' whip cream along with some yummy cookies to enjoy with said latte. Luuuuuv the coffee~ just not the coffee breath :{ so I also included some fresh breath mints :) The Starbucks card is in the holder behind the cup that fits just *perfectly* in the box. I made a little ornament tag that hangs in front.
Here's a closer peek:

 I had this idea brewing in my head so when I went to buy the gift card, I asked if I could have a little sampler cup. Then at home, I added cotton in the cup to create the look of whipped cream :)

I used to left over pieces of DP to embellish- like the inside of the box lid. :)
Take a lookie:

 This paper is GORGEOUSNESS!!! The snowflakes are embossed & flocked. I absolutely love it- oh, it's Martha paper in case you want to know. When you use beautiful, thicker, double-sided paper, this box is a cinch! You probably can't tell, but the lid is white glitter paper.

So who is this going to? Well, all the teachers in my department (Spanish) pulled a name at random & I got my department chair! No pressure - she's only like my mini-boss! Actually, she's super cool & luckily for me, she's a Starbucks girl :) We had a $20 limit so I loaded a Starbucks card & added the cookies & mints (for extra credit :) I must keep my department chair happy!

I have to say I'm so tickled with how it came out & I know I will be making loads of these this Christmas. It took me sooooooo little time to make. You know what I'm thinking... uh huh... TEACHER gifts! :)

Here's one last peek:

Oh, i adhered the mints, cookies, & gift card with glue dots. I placed the cookies & mint box flush with the bottom so when you close it the weight remains on the bottom & you don't have bulges on the sides of the box.

Hope you like my latest concoction!
Oh & if you want to learn how to make this box, the tut can be found---> HERE.

Thank you a latte for peeking today! Ok, no more puns :( but I do thank you for stopping by!
 Gotta go!