JOY of the Season

The beautiful white fluffy stuff is making an appearance across a lot of the US this week, and here in Florida we are enjoying "sweater weather" even though snow and ice rarely make it this far South.  A family member sent us some photos of his property with the deer out in the snow and so I have been thinking about how God sustains of all of the beautiful wild things through the Winter, with or without our help, just as he so faithfully provides for each of us.  

One sheet of beautiful designer paper inspired the colors for this project.  The red cardinal and berries stand out so brightly in all of those lovely blues with just a hint of lavender.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Vintage Christmas Images Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Snowflake Blessings Border Strip
• Craft Consortium Over the Rainbow 6x6
• Seam Binding Sampler - Rich Pastels - 40 yards
• Sheer ribbon / Dots
• Tulle/Net/Mesh
• Copic markers
• distress oxide inks
• glitter marker
• small red button

Gift Card Holders

Welcome back!  How's your week been?  For my American friends, how was your Thanksgiving?  Ours was peaceful and our turkey dinner was delicious (if I do say so myself)!  

Each December I usually make a couple of gift card holders to have on hand.  They make a great back-up plan in case you've left someone off your Christmas list, so it is a good idea to stash at least one just in case!   

I have two cards for today.  One is stamped, and the other is made only with printed paper cut-outs (also flat for mailing). Both use the Carta Bella Winter Time 6x6 designer paper. 

Over the years I have made lots of different styles of gift card holders.  These two have a special "W fold" inside (a 4.5 x 11 inch piece of card stock scored at 5.5 and also 2.75 from each end), the very back of which forms a pocket for money or a gift card.

A few "words of wisdom" regarding construction:  

• plan and decorate the various pages of your W fold element before adhering it to the decorated card base!  Once adhered, it will not lay flat for stamping.  
• remember NOT to glue the entire back panel of the W fold in place!  Leave one side open for the money/gift card pocket!  
• decorate the card base, then adhere the pocket to the inside back, leaving one side and the interior open so the gift card will slide in (yes, it is worth repeating!)
• then fold the W fold mechanism, add adhesive to the front of it, then simply close the front of the card base and it will line up just right!

My second card has no stamping at all.  It was made entirely with the Winter Time designer paper pad and various printed paper cutouts.  Easy peasy and so cute!  

See that red cording?!  I decided to add it after constructing my card and had to use a stylus and a crochet hook to get it through!  So yeah, planning your entire layout before-hand is so much simpler!  

My first card has a notch in the middle of the pocket opening, whereas for this one the pocket opening is cut on the diagonal.  It's kinda fun to change things up a little.  

I hope you like them both!

Supplies:

Spirit of Christmas

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Christmas Peace
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Angels Among Us Bundle
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Peace & Joy Word Dies
• Carta Bella Winter Time 6x6
• Craft Consortium Grunge Festive Tones 6x6
• Luxury Pearlescent Metallic 105# Cardstock - Quartz White 6 ct
• Sizzix Thinlits Dies by Tim Holtz - Holiday Greens Mini
• May Arts 1.5" Wrinkled Ribbon - 50 yard spool - Red
• Gems
• gold cord
• corner punch

SNOW!

• Carta Bella Winter Time 6x6
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Christmas Stockings & Mittens (snowflake)
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Circles LG
• Gems