We put up our Christmas tree!

I love watching the kids get so excited over it. The BEST part about our tree-MOST of the ornaments are ones made BY my kids! I love it!! Its like the TREE OF ART! I think they feel special seeing all their little creation’s hanging from the branches.

Popsicle stick reindeer, felt mouse candycane holder, plaster of paris BLOB with glitter, felt trees with sparkles and jewels, decoupage ornaments a plenty-Now those are real ornaments to me.

I also love that each child gets ONE special ornament each year. Some are nicely engraved, and others serve as reminders of their favorite interest-like Bob the Builder-Barney LOL! Stuff like that. Alexa got one last year that was a gorgoeus butterfly for support of Cancer Research. Noah got Sponge Bob, and Amber a cool Cat one.

You will not find glorious glass ornaments or victorian style fancy baubles. Just cardstock my kids decorated with glitter-or that have their handprints.

To think someday it iwll just be Jay and I at home. I am so trying to enjoy this time while they are little. I am really happy that I can stop and soak it all up!

OK I’m getting all mushy thinking about it, so anyway………

Now speaking of tree’s…………………………

Is this not YUMMY?

These are chocolate peppermint candy canes by Hershy. YUM! LOVE the colors, and they taste awesome too.

But, I wasn’t talking about the candy canes, I was talking about the holder! Another SUPER SIMPLE idea to package those holiday goodies. Think homemade cookies, or other baked good. Maybe some stationary, or cards. Hey- add a top (or not), and you have a card holder!  Made in just minutes.

I used Holiday Cheer, for my tree’s and tag. It was seriously perfect. All sides of this holder are decorated. That is important too. Complete the job. A container has more than ONE side!

The rectangle layer of tree’s is embossed with my rectangle nestabilities die, so it adds more interest (not seen in photo). It really makes it possible to not need the addition of a mat of color when you do this. Its elegant and cleanly detailed all on its own.

I think its ALL about PRESENTATION-and just a box of the simplest candy canes can look amazing in the right container. This will go to work with Jason to liven up the office

To make this I used my Scor-Pal -

8 1/2 X 11 Olive Cardstock

score along the 11 inch side at 5 and 16

score along the 8 1/2 inch side at 1, and 7 1/2.

Snip the edges of the 1 inch panel- to make your sides

I got this AMAZING patterned paper at my LSS www.nhstampingmemories.com. Its by American Crafts. It not only matched my Candy Canes, but helped the flow of the color scheme I was after. It also continue’s the RETRO feel.

I also used Old Olive cardstock, SU! Wide grosgrain ribbon in red, and Choc. chip cardstock. I used co-ordinating SU! markers for this as well.

The shimmery shredded paper was a $1 Target find!

How cool is that?

Hope they enjoy it! If anything its at least FESTIVE! Nothing say’s Christmas like candy canes.

Till tomorrow

OK I hope you aren’t sick to death of Christmas stuff, because if you are-then this isn’t the post for you!

I am still whipping up the gifts/cards and ideas! Im doing really good getting stuff done The BEST part is I’m seriously having a BLAST. Unlike last year when I was rushing around doing gifts. It was “fun” but morestressful. Plus I have ALOT of super cute sets to play with this year to mix it up a bit.

The first box you are going to see ( I made 2 ) is for the Secretaries at school, and at the Oncology clinic Alexa goes to monthly. They are really nice, and should not be forgotten. Inside this box will have some DELICIOUS gourmet chocolate toffee covered pretzel sticks from Archer Farms. You get a good amount for $3.99! That will be just enough for them to enjoy and know they are thought of, again without breaking any bank accounts.

Now this first box-is a Star Box. I got this idea from the Scor-Pal website. Tutorial can be found  —-> HERE

It was VERY easy. I had a bit of a challenge cutting my bottom piece-cause I’m not a good trace and cut kinda girl! AND I’m a perfectionist.

   Click to enlarge

Pretty cool huh?

The tag (and card below) was made by using the  ACWP -Christmas Cheer set.

Here is the card

How flipping cute is that reindeer? I love him/her. I will need to do something else with it for sure.

I just kept it “simple”. I did stamp, and cut the tree 3 times on different layers of patterned paper. So its very 3D in person. This will go to one of the groups.

Liquid pearls make the “snow”.

Stay tuned, later I will have some more gift idea’s using Lizzie Anne sets, and I have another super cute Bella card

          NOW IN FULLER SIZE

WOW! I never knew how many people LOVE my step by step instructions for things, until I DONT post them! LOL!

I figured most people don’t care.

Sometimes I don’t even get many comments.

BUT-I cannot even count how many have emailed, and asked for the measurements for the shopping bags-on the cardfront!

So rather than reply to every single one of you, Ill reply here.

Post for card is below this one is below—->HERE.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cut cardstock 6 X 6

Score at 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 1 1/2 inches,  4 1/2 , 5,  5 1/2.

Then score on other side at 1/2 and 1 1/2

Your adhesive will go on the 3 ends (2 sides, and bottom-it has no back, as the sides will adhere to cardfront) that are scored 1/2 inch. The two other 1/2 inch scores make the sides of the bag.

Have fun!

I’m not getting into all the step by step because you will “see it” as the measurements are scored, just how it all comes together.  I am also not posting the photos and whatnot, as Diana (at Scor-Pal) has asked me to leave it for a future tutorial.

Hope this helps

BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

I cannot believe it’s snowing outside. A good sticky snow! Now that puts me in a HUGE Christmas mood.

WHERE IS THAT CHRISTMAS MUSIC??

I’m SO into it this year. Maybe because I started early? My Christmas cards, and teacher/other gifts are made?

Or maybe its the HUGE excitement my kids have! YEAH! That has to be it.

Kids make this time of year just so magical.

Remember being a kid, and having that magical feeling during the holidays? I know I do. When I hit like 9 or 10 it went POOF!!!! Every year I so missed that feeling.

It really hadn’t come back till my kids have now gotten the Christmas Spirit.

Seeing them be so excited, and already counting down the days. We have been watching Rudolph and Frosty for like 3 weeks now! LOL!

We put up our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, and go all out decorating inside the house. I cannot even wait.

Through Make-A-Wish Alexa gets a HOUSE visit from Santa himself! She is going to pee her pants! I dont know if it will be from TERROR, or excitement! LOL!

She loves the “idea” of him, but doesn’t like “HIM” in person. Wait till I post those photos! LOL!

I have no idea what Amber and Noah will do.

We are wrapping their most wanted toy ( Baby Alive for Alexa, Scooby Doo video game for Noah, and Dora Dance mat for  Amber) for Santa to bring them! We leave it on the porch for him and Mrs. Claus to present as they come in! Now if that doesnt make true believer’s of Santa NOTHING will!!!! I think Im more excited than they will be!

So to the shopping-

I got mega deals at Target last night, and the best part-NO ONE there!!!! It was very quiet. I have just about finished shopping for my kids Only 3 little things left to buy! GO MOMMY!!! We are only doing about 10 gifts each. Plus stocking stuffer’s. I don’t know about you, but my kids stuff is SO expensive!! Each toy is like $30 plus dollars! What is up with that??

I dont want to overwhelm them or spoil them too much either.

The cool thing was my Publications/Design  work paid for my kid’s Christmas gifts

Now that is rewarding.

I also want to add that every year each of my kids picks out a toy for Toys for Tots, and we go tothe Giving Tree, which is a tree at Walmart, where you pick a gift for a child off the tree, and purchase it. I get so sad when a child asks for gloves or PJ’s or something they NEED as oppose to want. Make’s me realize how fortunate my family is. I usually add a toy to those requests.

OK now onto the stamping part. No one wants to here my blabbering. But I would LOVE to hear what you love to do this time of year to prep for the Holidays.

I’m sitting here with my steeping hot cup of Dunkin Donuts (I am a DD coffee snob) coffee, and thought I’d share some more gift idea’s with you.

One’s that will warm up even the COLDEST of days!

I made a few more samples with my sets from A Chemistry With Paper.

I used one of my fave’s Hot Holiday Drinks.

I LOVE coffee/tea sets!! You can never have too many of those. I love theirs because of the possibilities for words! Some I have never seen in a set before. So this was HIGH on my list.

Cocoa Cones

 Can you believe this SAME idea, not nearly as nice as mine (wink) retails for $4.99 in stores?? Oh My Word!!!

In case you haven’t realized it, I LOVE Archer Farms items! They are high quality, without the price tag! The cocoa you see in th photo is DELICIOUS!!! It retails for $3.99. It  comes in a variety of flavors :D, This is my personal favorite.

I put 7 tablespoons of cocoa mix, in the disposable frosting bag. This will make 1 1/2 cups of cocoa.

I added the marshmallows, and 2 delicious Ghirardelli peppermint bark squares (crushed up) to each one.

 So, to break it down for you-to make 12 Cocoa Cones-

 here is the list

3 containers of cocoa- $12 ($1 each bag)

1 pkg 12 disposeable frosting bags $4 (0.33 cents each)

1 pkg marshmallows$1 (easliy fills 12 bags 0.08 cents each)

1 9.3 oz bag of Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark  $5 (24 pieces = 0.20 each)

A grand total of $22.

That means each Cocoa Cone adds up to be about $1.83 to make! A far cry from $4.99, for cheap and stale cones.

Now that is with top of the line ingredients! This doesn’t count using a coupon, or getting items on SALE!

How cool is that?? Plus the personalized touch-PRICLESS

Now to make my bag-I stamped the peppermint image from Holiday Treats with White StazOn on my frosting bag. I colored it in with a red Sharpie marker. Copic markers work as well.

For my tag I used the Hot Holiday Drinks set. Colored with Copic Markers. I colored the glass with my Clear Glaze Sakura gel pen. Makes it look so real in person.

 Tag close-up

White Liquid pearls make the “whipped cream”. YUMMY!!!

My paper is by Paper Salon -Holiday Swatches collection. Ribbon is by American Crafts. Did a bit of sponging to add to the chocolatey feel.

Now for the coffee lovers!

I covered this coffee bag! Super simple!

I just took ALL the words I wanted from the Hot Holiday Drinks set, and put them on a large acrylic block. Stamped my bkgd “paper”. EASY PEASY.

Now I have a personalized gift. You could put coffee flavored candy in there, or special cookies, like Biscotti. Possibilities are endless!!!

Hope you enjoyed. I was really long winded today-YIKES!!!

Till tomorrow.

Don’t miss your chance to win——-HERE

So I have to say I am also in LOVE with the Holiday Treats set by A Chemistry With Paper!!

I can’t stop using it. I haven’t seen anything else like it, and am just working on putting all the possibilities in my head, onto paper!

Nothing say’s you care like the way your present a gift. Especially as crafter’s, making cute packaging can be so rewarding.

This Gingerbread House treat box was one of the many to come.

I saw these cute gingerbread house idea’s, by Martha Stewart. It was $7.99 for 6 SMALLER treat boxes!!! That’s a $1.33 per box. Granted it came with a tiny piece of ribbon/tag for each-but still.

I made my own with ONE sheet of creamy caramel cardstock 0.23 cents to make!

I just scored my cardstock  along the 11 length-with my Scor-Pal at 2 1/2, 5, 7 1/2 then 10.

I then scored along the 8 1/2 side at 1 1/2 and 6. This makes the top, and bottom.

For my house, I used the gingerbread-man border, from Holiday Treats byACWP, stamped around the box. Colored with Copic’s and white singlo gel pen. Red stickles on the buttons.

The “sign” is thier Holiday Cheer set-another great one.

I then used Papertrey Ink Borders & corners for the “window’s”, stamped in white craft.

For the trim around the box, I used Its Elemental by MFT Stamps.

 My Keytag punch made the door.

VIOLA!! My own holiday Gingerbread House treat box!

Here is what is inside-click for larger view.

These are two of the gourmet rice crispy treat’s I spoke of in a few other posts. They are by Archer Farms (Target), and two in a pack is only 0.80 cents!!!

These are peanut butter, with choc. drizzle, and a milk choc. with white/dark choc. drizzle! They are SO yummy!!! Plus since they are pre-wrapped you can start packaging them all up without making them or worry they’ll go bad.

Cute huh??

Hope you like it!

Till tomorrow. I have another Elzybell card, and MORE samples from ACWP!!!

Plus I’ll announce the winner of the Cookie Recipe Holder!

WOW is this post ever LATE! I hope it will have been worth it!

 I am doing a Christmas Gift Idea Giveaway! Keep reading.

Did  you all enjoy the weekend?

Anyone hit the mall?

Yesterday I hit the stores (PACKED with crazy shoppers) with one of my local reader’s “Margie”. We had a blast shopping, then had lunch at TGIFridays! YUM! Tomorrow I’m hitting Target AGAIN-cause of a 4 day SALE!!! I saw toys that were WAY marked down for the event

Today I had a ton of stuff I had to do BEFORE my computer stuff was able to be done :C Sorry. BUT with this post I hope you will find another HELPFUL gift giving idea.

Well ,as you all know I am now one of the designers for this new company called A Chemistry With Paper.

I got 3 sets last week-Christmas Cheer, Holiday Treats, and Hot Holiday Drinks. I cannot put them down.

Let me say I am in LOVE with her images-seriously!! All this week I will post a new sample using the sets I have. They are mainly gift ideas too. So think Holiday ideas.

What I REALLY love is the quality acrylic. I’m talking GORGEOUS, CRISP images. The top quality acrylic is made by Stewart Superior! HELLO! Well worth every penny.

So, for my FIRST item, I will reveal - a Cookie Swap Recipe Booklet!

Now YOU have a chance to win this.

 Cookie Recipe Holder

Is this not adorable?? Now, I want you to think of this as gift idea for a lot of people in your life.

When I saw these cookie image’s I went NUTS!

What I did was get recipe’s for 8 of my most favorite holiday cookies, and got I the photos of the finished cookies to match. I then made/saved my own recipe cards!!! All I have to do is print them all off. I used photo paper because I love the look. So clear, and professional-and brings out the YUM factor of the finished baked cookie.

The cookies I included in the gift packer are:

Raspberry Linzer Sandwich Cookies

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Candy Cane cookies

Lemon Butter cookies

Oatmeal toffee cookies

Christmas ornament dough mix

Sugar Cookies

Peanutbutter Gingerbread man cookies

 Photo of recipe cards I made  myself.

What a great variety!!!

Now, you want to step it up a bit?

How cool would it be to make a batch of all 8 recipes. Bag ONE of each up, as a taste sampler, and include this super cute Cookie recipe holder?

Considering each recipe makes a few dozen, that could be homemade DELICIOUS gifts-for ALOT of people. Without the HUGE cost.

This particular gift would be FABULOUS for those who organize a Cookie Swap, or just love baking/cooking.

This was also SUPER EASY!!! After I got the recipe cards cut- copied- pasted- sized- printed-and SAVED!!!

Now I can make a TON of these!

Here is a few more views-just click for the LARGER view

 Holder open      Side View

Now here is HOW I made it

My recipe cards are 3 1/2 X 5 1/2. So basically you get about 4 per sheet of photo paper.

My cardstock was cut 6 x 9

Simply use your Scor-Pal  and score at 1 , 1 1/2, and 5 1/2. DONE!! If you are crunched for time-Use double sided cardstock and you are GOLDEN. Or wheel a pattern if you don’t have any you like.

The flap stays closed with Basic Grey magnetic closures.

I added ribbon to the inside to tie around the holder. This will hold the recipe cards in place, and adds a cute touch! Otherwise they may slip out the sides.

Now how seriosuly SIMPLE is that?

So do YOU want THIS holder? It can be all yours. For YOU or someone else.

Well, then all you have to do is comment here, and tell me which stamp set over at A Chemistry With Paper is your favorite!

I will pick a random winner Tuesdnesday morning by www.random.org.  That way I can mail it out Wednesday for you.

Now for a bonus-it you order, then reply back here and tell us what you ordered-that gives you another chance to enter. If you already have some of their images, then also respond with a link to your creation/creations! I’m sure we would all LOVE to see what YOU have done with them!

So stay tuned! More to come!!!

Thanks for reading. I look forward to seeing what everyone thinks.

 Designed Wallet

EDITED: I just added the photo of the stamped/designed wallet! I did this first thing this morning to show you a stepped up version!

This uses the new set that Demo’s got from Stampin Up. I think its called Time Well Spent. I colored it with my Copic markers, then spritzed with my black marker!

Here is the inside view

 click for larger view.

I basically did a OSW-then cut it up!

Happy Saturday!!!

I love Saturday’s. This week since I am feverishly working on Christmas stuff- I figured I’d share a newer version of my “wallet” gift card holder! This one uses JUST paper/cardstock to hold the card.

Its super easy, and dresses up any gift card you may give.

You can keep it simple or go ALL out.

Tis the season, and I assume people give these out alot this time of year. I know we do

This simple template can be done in under 3 minutes, after you first try it out. So you could mass produce these holders for anyone whom you are giving one to!

Here is a diagram for you to print/follow. Any questions-just ask here, and I will answer in the comments section.

 Click to enlarge

 Get a 6×6 piece of cardstock/patterned paper

Step 1

score at 3 1/2

Step 2

Turn cardstock to other end. Score at 2 1/2 and 3

3) Trim excess piece at 3 inch end (long end, on shorter measurement). Fold in smaller flap, then fold up, to create a “pocket”.

      insert card into pocket.

4) From scrap-cut a 1 inch piece. Score at 1/2 inch. Then adhere the 1/2 inch piece to back of  wallet.

I like to use my Basic Grey magnetic closures, but to keep costs down you could use velcro-or the style I used in the link above, for the older version of the wallet.

You could even punch a slot to fit the flap closure into!

Let me know how you like it.

Send us a link here should you decide to create one.

Remember this is for inspiration ONLY-and not to be used for submissions or contest enteries

Tomorrow I have a really cool project/gift idea, so come back again.

Oh I am SO in the Christmas spirit! I want to just share so much with all of you.

So I bit the bullet and decided to do a few PERSONAL gift sets! I did 4 sets of monogram cards. There are 6 cards in each set, with stamped matching envelopes. I feel for some “special” people, something a TAD more involved was in order.

So this is what I did!

I used my rectangle  Nestablilites for the scalloped layer, as well as the embossed straight edge of the stamped layer.

I basically did a One Sheet Wonder, then did the cutting of dies.

I used Jolies Fleurs for the stamped layer, Celebration Frames for the scallop punched circle, and Olivia alpha for the monogram- all found —–>HERE or HERE.

Tied at the top with some simple ribbon. I was really going for a personal gift, that can be used for any occasion. I felt these notecards were clean, and simple, yet elegant. I made the 4 sets while watching Regis and Kelly, and an episode of Martha Stewart-then part of The View. In short these 24 card sets took me some time, but were well worth the effort. I hate mass producing so was way DONE!!!

The layering, scallops, and embossing are a real WOW in person. Plus they are very dimensional, which doesn’t show in the box!

  Here is another view-sorry bad lighting!

A little while ago I posted an ornament for the Paper Craft’s Festival of Tree’s—->here. I said I would be making another one in its place, due to the fact it looked like a turnip :C I definitely felt this one was worthy. They seemed excited to accept it as well. I cannot wait to see what the tree ends up looking like.

I bought this clear ornament at Michaels, last year on clearance for 0.10 cents! YEAH!!!

The color scheme had to be red and turquoise.

I stamped my snowman from Christmas in the City , in StazOn on clear polyshrink. Colored with myCopic markers, then shrunk him down

I used the Holiday Cheer set, stamped in red 3 seperate times, then punched out with my Giga Scallop circle, center cut out with my Coluzzle. I adhered the 3 circles together, and put my snowman charm hanging from the center.

I placed them in the snowball, with some Martha Stewart winter white glitter in the bottom! Looks just like shimmery snow.

Next up I haver a Christmas card using the same Holiday Cheer set.

The circle sentiment is stamped on the vellum layer in white. That paper underneath is Martha Stewart wrapping paper!!! I LOVED it, and yes it was on clearance.

This card was super duper fast too!! I love solid images. You can really just FLY through a project with them. This set is a really cool one IMO

I’m waiting for some NEW goodies to arrive-crossing my finger’s today is the day.

There are some FAB new releases coming from MFT too!!! But those have to wait till December to share :C

One particular set is ROCKIN!! I have some awesome stuff I did for Christmas gifts but can’t share till Feb!!!

Now that my friends is TORTURE!

Till tomorrow-where I may share a Bella card. Not sure yet.

Well I want to thank all of you for sharing my excitement over my latest finds, and uploads. I really hope that my insanity has helped you with your Christmas ideas I know I am enjoying the feeling of accomplishment!

I hope that I can continue to share some more cool stuff as the season approaches.

I have gotten some great mail from some friends and reader’s. So thank you so much! I will be emailing you to say thank you

I had a awful week here. All 3 kids-sick! Dealing with my aftermath of tooth discomfort. Not that that’s a big deal. You wonder HOW I have posted here? Well sometimes I can do a few days at a time-just go in and add as needed.

Noah had the 2 day stomach bug starting Wed. AKA constant vomiting/fever. Then his cold turned to croup Thursday night - I was up with him since 2 am on Friday- took him to the the doctors TWICE. Out all day with 2 sick kids. Walk in the door-to the phone ringing. It was the school- Alexa got sent home-white as a ghost, shaking, and a fever of 102.1 (axillary).  Looked SCARY! That;s my Alexa! Perfectly fine one second-crashing the next! She has doen this since birth. Takes a quick turn. Her teaher was so freaked she came to my house to see how she was! (Pays to ALWAYS have your house clean, let me tell you. Sorry thats my OCD kicking in)

Packed our bags.

Went to the ER with her, for the battery of tests-after 6 hours-Pneumonia AGAIN! Thank God, she had good O2 sat’s and her counts were good cause we got to come home on antibiotics, and neb treatments! Was I ever happy.

Saturday-11 am Noah’s 5th b-day party (yes Im insane!!!)! But it went well, and the kids were feeling better. Except mom-exhausted. Seriously, it was a great party.

Now I get to come here, vent and share AHHHHHHHH!

I know you are all dying to see my Target finds.

I feel they were worth the wait.

So, while browsing the clearance section, I found the BEST thing! I took ONLY 3. Thinking to myself “Lauren, you have TONS of alter-ables, and coasters. You aren’t here to shop for fun, don’t go crazy” So, I put like 6 sets back :C

WHAT! WHAT! What did I put back?

They were bags, with a set of 2 glass coasters in them. They have a silver frame-and in the back, a slot to place a photo! They were on clearance for $1.38. Well I get to the register and it was like 50% off THAT!! So it was only 0.69 CENTS for 2 glass coasters!

I paniced! Had I known how SUPER CHEAP they really were, I would have cleaned them out!  Wanting to go back, but time wa not on my side. I had to get home to get Noah off the bus. Besides I had NO IDEA what I would (if I even would) use them for!

Now I kick myself! I went back-gone. How sad I was.

So here is what I did with them. I made paper weights! Or you could hang them up with pretty ribbon-heck use them for their initial purpose-a coaster! LOL!

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” Elenore Roosevelt

I stamped the sentiment on the glass with Pallet ink in black. I stamped the flowers on the insert, so there is a gorgeous layered/3-D appeal to them IRL. BEST part less than 2 minute’s to make each one!! That my friends ROCKS!

LOVE that sentiment by CTMH. Flowers are Stem Silhouettes by SU!

I figure they are great for the secretaries or co-workers for Jason! OR I may put them with the Teacher gifts! They can remove the insert I made, and exhange it with their own thing if they choose.

I will tie each one with ribbon and a tag. I have 6 total. Here is another view of them

 Dont they look so pretty?

OK my next BIG find-again MORON only bought ONE!

Here is a heavy duty plastic tray.

I got the tray for 0.89 CENTS! Its large and really nice to work with!

I had planned on adhering the bottom panel insert under the tray. BUT stupid Lauren, used nail polish remover to get the sticky tag off, and it made it all scratchy and foggy! GASP!!! My tray-ruined!!! Oh well.

 I decided to put in a insert, IN the tray, that can be changed depending on the event! Nice table decor too. You even thought about laminating it for those times you want to throw food items on it. Then just wipe it clean.

The cool gift idea would be figure the color’s of your recipient’s decor then go from there. I also like the idea of giving it with a couple insert’s for them to switch up.

The large candle was only 0.35 cents, and the little ones were a box of 12 for $1.

Just wrapped the candles, then tied with this satin ribbon, that I also got at Target. Gift wrap/bridal invite section-15 yds $2.99! ALL sorts of colors. Yes, I am going back to collect them all.

The bottom of the small candles have scalloped adhered to then for interest. They can even catch any wax that may collect form burning the candles.

Do you LOVE my paper? I did NO stamping, cause I LOVED that paper. It’s crisp. clean, yet detailed. You know what-Its Martha Stewart wrapping paper On SALE!!!! $3 a roll.

LOVE it. This set took 15 minutes to make-MAX!

This could be the beginings of a great gift set of things. All shrink wrapped, with a bow.

 I did alot of gift basket of handmade stuff last year (made myself), cause I always love the themed one’s I find that cost like a million dollar’s for $50 worth of stuff.

Remember PRESENTATION is EVERYTHING!!!!!

Now those are some way cool finds. I hope that Target keeps them coming

I also hope it was worth the wait to you. If not for the fact you can’t find the items, but look at some you may have, waiting to be made into a reasonable gift from the heart.

I really believe that people remember that stuff most.

Just don’t make anyone Fruit Cake! I don’t think anyone likes that gift-and they will definitely remember WHO gave it to them! LOL! Only so they don’t re-gift it to them.

OK I hope you can all take that as a joke. I know someone is out there who reads this, and makes fruit cake religiously every year!

Tomorrow I share my Elzybells cards-that’s right card “s”!! I made a sample with each new stamp I had too much fun-and could NOT stop.

 Click image for larger view please.

So this week I decided to MIX IT UP! I wanted you to make a 3-D item instead! This will also help you have a Boxed Bag Holder for someone special, to house their Christmas gift! OR a party favor for a kids party-whatever really.

I created this box template a few weeks ago! But since then have made 2 more!

 Santa Sends Sweets!

I used the Lizzie Anne set called Holiday Cheer, and the Santa (simply singles). Is it NOT the cutest thing ever? Inside this box are 2 large-delicious- gourmet-chocolate/peanutbutter covered rice crispie treat sticks, from Archer Farms (found at Target. No that isn’t my special find)!

What a great gift for that someone who you just want to “acknowledge” this holiday, yet can’t afford to go spending a fortune! The treats were $3.99 for a package of 10!! Thats only .39 cents a piece! That gives you a thoughtful GOURMET gift for a whopping 0.80 CENTS!!!! NO COOKING REQUIRED!

HELLO mailman, and Mr. Brown, co-workers……………….you get the point!

Please don’t think I’m about being CHEAP! I’m not! I’m just saying we all have so many important people to think about during the holidays, its hard not to go into debt! AND isnt this WHY we stamp? To make gifts with thoughtfulness? That is the spirit.

 Plus its a gift that if someone didn’t acknowledge you, or couldn’t, they wouldn’t feel completely awful about it. I am keeping some of these ON HAND for just that situation! LOL!

So, I have to say I truly LOVE it!!! Fits all sorts of great goodies. AND, it only takes a couple of minutes to make! Seriously like 5 minutes! BEFORE decorating. After you do the first one-you will whip these up in no time flat.

I have to say that I use myScor-Pal, so it makes it easy since I don’t have to move my paper.

Don’t worry if you don’t have one (YET), you can still make it.

Click thumbnails for closer view

You will need-

Scor-Pal (or other scoring device) 

Heavy patterned paper, or cardstock.

Paper Snips

Heavy Adhesive

Key tag punch (or other handle punch)

Corner rounder (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Cut cardstock 9 X 12.

Score along the 12 inch side at 4 - 5 1/2 - 9 1/2 - 11

Score at 9 inch side at 2 - 3 - 8

See diagram-of finished scores.

Snip/trim away excess and flaps-see diagram for example of what to snip, and what to clip!

Round top panel coners. Then punch hole’s for handle’s

Apply adhesive to small flap on far right, and bottom panel.

Next -assemble!

 See side view

 Bloomin Box Bag

See it doesn’t have to be ONLY Christmas-y KWIM? This would be a great Boxed Bag for a re-gift!!!

And that my friends, is all I have for you today!

Let me know what you think of my Christmas ideas, and PLEASE let me know if you make the Boxed Bag!

Include a link in the comments section, so we can all see your creation

OR if you have questions-let me know.

I’m having Noah’s 5th Birthday part today! WOW! Time flies. I hope to have a super cute Smilebox for Monday!

Till tomorrow!