Category Archives: Christmas

A Walk in the Forest Christmas Card

A Walk in the Forest Christmas Card

It’s the first Christmas card of the season! It’s the A Walk in the Forest Christmas Card! One of the perks of being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator is getting to preorder new products coming up in the next catalog so that we can become acquainted with the new things and make samples to show our customers. I’m not usually into animals, but there are brown bears and polar bears in this upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog. For some reason, this time I had to have them! The designer paper, anyway!

For this card, I used the new A Walk in the Forest Designer Series Paper (162377), which you will find at the top of page 5. You might miss it even though there are many samples across the two-page spread, but this paper stands alone. It is not part of a suite or bundle or anything. It’s just paper.

However, if you read the Stampin’ Up! Making a Difference box on page 5, you will find that with each purchase of this designer paper, Stampin’ Up! will donate $3 to support organizations dedicated to spreading cheer and providing support to those in need. So with your fun purchase, you will be helping others during this holiday season.

This A Walk in the Forest Designer Series Paper has bears, trees, snowflakes, stripes, evergreen branches and red berries. Some of the images work with the Merriest Trees Dies and some of the bears can be punched with the Beary Cute Punch.

For this card, I decided to use Pecan Pie cardstock although I was tempted to use Real Red or Cherry Cobbler. I decided Pecan Pie would go better with the outdoor, rustic theme of the card. The “other side” of this paper with the trees and the bears, is this Garden Green with tiny little triangle trees all over it. I chose that side of the paper for the layer on the Pecan Pie card base.

The top layer with the tree in the forest was strategically cut out of the designer paper so that I would have that big tree but not part of a bear along the edge. It worked out to cut it a little smaller than a normal layer which was fine because then a larger margin of the green paper would show. The tree layer is 3 1/2″ x 4. Out of another section of the paper, I cut out the brown bear. You can purchase the Beary Cute Punch, on page 67. It is actually part of a Bundle with the Beary Cute Stamp Set. But for this card, I just used my Paper Snips to cut out the bear by hand. I used a LOT of Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back of the bear because I wanted him popped up but sturdy! It was easy enough with my mostly used-up Dimensionals because I cut along the edges and cut itty bitty pieces for on his legs.

The greeting is in the Merriest Trees Stamp Set on page 12 of the Holiday Mini. I stamped it with Garden Green ink on Pecan Pie cardstock. I wasn’t sure if it would show up well enough but it does. It was diecut with a banner in the Stylish Shapes Dies. It just barely fit but I like it. I popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals also.

I have to be honest and say it took everything in me to NOT put any rhinestones or jewels or bling of any kind on this card! I really wanted to add some sparkle to the tree, but I also liked the rustic look of the trees and the bear and didn’t want to spoil that.

The Holiday Mini (officially known as the September – December 2023 Mini Catalog) goes live on September 6 for you to order from. It ends on January 3 (which right now we can’t imagine!). Be sure to order your very favorite things as soon as you can so you don’t have to wait for a backorder situation.

If you liked this A Walk in the Forest Christmas Card just know that it is an easy card to make although you couldn’t make a ton of the same card because you need to work with the trees and the bears on the paper. But otherwise, you just have to glue the layers to the card, punch or cut out the bear and add a greeting. That’s it!

Shop the Holiday Mini Sept. 6th!

Kits Collection Festive Tags Kit

Kits Collection Festive Tags Kit Contents

A great kit to purchase on the Stampin’ Up! Kits Collection Sale during August is this Festive Tags Kit! It is an easy kit to make, no stamping, only takes about an hour total, and you will be using the tags for sure for holiday gifts! It’s a win win!

Inside the box, you get all the supplies you need to make the project, all wrapped up with the easy directions.

Kits Collection Festive Tags Kit Contents2

It’s so fun to open up the package of supplies and see what goodies you got in there! Besides the basic pieces to make the tags, you get some goldish jewels and a roll of twine, plus Dimensionals, which are the only adhesive you need.

Kits Collection Festive Tags Kit Pieces

Here’s a tip that usually works! As you punch out the pieces of any kit, if you keep the stack of the same pieces lined up and together, you can usually punch out all three pieces in the stack at the same time. You don’t necessarily have to do each one on each sheet. Just stack them up perfectly and punch them out! Once you have all the pieces and embellishments laid out on the table, you are in good shape to start assembling the project!

Kits Collection Festive Tags Kit Tags

This Festive Tags Kit makes 15 tags for your holiday gifts! Three each of five designs! That really gives you a good variety! And just stick on the greeting (in another language, if you choose!) instead of stamping! Tied the decorated tag onto a backing tag and you have a cute tag with space to write on the back who the gift is to and from. Once you add those gold-colored self-adhesive jewels, it really makes those cute tags pop!

Watch Sara’s video below and see how she puts the tags together!

You’ll save a little bit of money if you purchase this kit before August 31 while this Kits Collection Sale is on! I would recommend buying more than one kit, maybe even two extra kits! You will enjoy putting the tags together and knowing that you have plenty when you go to gift wrap your packages. Or add the tag you made to the front of a card, perhaps with an extra layer or something to make up the card, and you’ll have an easy card ready to go!

Check out the other holiday tag kits from past years as well!

Shop the Kits Collection Sale HERE!

Last Minute Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas

Gift Wrap Ideas

It’s Christmas Eve and if you don’t have your packages wrapped yet or ran out of wrapping paper, you might need these last-minute Christmas gift wrap ideas! I was afraid we might run out of wrapping paper so I did several presents without the fancy stuff just in case!

For the first one, I just used a plain white shopping bag, tied on a nice tag from either a Paper Pumpkin Kit or a Stampin’ Up! Kit from a previous Christmas. So handy to have those gift tags already made up! Put that on your summertime list and you’ll be ready! I just tied on a nice tag and with the colored tissue paper inside the bag it looks great!

I started out thinking I should use some of the brown paper we have from Amazon and other packages. One Etsy gal I have ordered from wraps her customers’ purchases in this paper and ties yarn around! Such a nice presentation, especially for a purchase! I didn’t have yarn handy, but I just added, again, one of my fancy Stampin’ Up! tags I already had ready and a stick-on bow! It’s fine!

Then late last night my daughter came out with one of her wrapped gifts. She used some of my retired designer paper taking up space in her bedroom and tied some retired ribbon around it! She was thrilled that it was such a pretty package!

Hope these last-minute ideas help you if you need it! But you probably have had all your packages wrapped since December 1st!

Merry Christmas! Stay warm!

Christmas Tree Triangle Box in Neutral

Christmas Tree Triangle Box in Neutral

It’s time to be wrapping packages this close to Christmas! If you need something cute for a small gift or treat, this easy triangle box might be just the thing for you! I’ve made a lot of them and they really are easy. Then you decorate however you like.

These are the basic instructions for how to make a Triangle Box:

  • Cut card stock in half lengthwise:  4 1/4″ x 11″
  • Score at 5 1/2″.
  • Mark the center of the strip on both ends at 2 1/8″ with a pencil mark.
  • Score with the Paper Trimmer at an angle, putting that center pencil mark on the track on the Paper Trimmer while also lining up the middle score line on that track.
  • Score both sides of the paper and both ends of the paper. That will make two triangles, one on each half of the paper.
  • Fold all the score lines and put the box together.
  • At the top point of the box punch holes for the ribbon to go through.
Christmas Tree Triangle Box scored

Somewhere I saw an idea like this: using a neutral color and a white pen to make the triangle box look like a Christmas tree. Of course, I couldn’t find it again, but I’m happy with my own version!

I chose Crumb Cake Cardstock for the neutral-colored tree. Before assembling, I just drew little white lines with a white gel pen to make it look like tree needles, I suppose. To tie the top closed I used a Gold & Vanilla 3/8″ Satin Edged Ribbon.

For the top of the tree, I found a retired star punch and some retired gold glitter paper (you could use Gold Foil Sheets, too). I punched a couple of extra gold stars and decided to use them on the front of the tree. It still needed a little more, so I used the Adhesive Backed Season Sequins in gold to fill in the tree.

Now the triangle box is ready to put a gift or treat inside and then tie up the bow at the top! Try one and see how easy it is! You could emboss the cardstock before assembling it if you like. Decorate one for any occasion!

Christmas tree triangle box

Framed & Festive Painted Christmas Cards

Framed & Festive Painted Christmas Cards

If you are looking for some more fairly easy ideas for Christmas cards, these Framed & Festive Painted Christmas Cards might be the ones. You can make yours even easier by leaving off the diecut greenery and berries. How about just designer paper, a greeting, and some ribbon?

This is the Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper. It was around last year and was carried over this year which I was happy about! I still had some from last year so I was happy to have another chance to use it, and I did use it a lot. I think I only have a little bit of paper left! It is on the Last Chance Sale so you can grab some at a bargain price! I especially loved the two patterns of paper I used on these two cards.

Both greetings are in the Framed & Festive Stamp Set. I loved using these this season. Stampin’ Up! released this stamp set in the Fitting Florets Collection, but this stamp set will not continue on into the Spring Mini Catalog. I loved the font of the greetings and they were ones I would actually use on my Chritsmas cards, either on the card front or maybe inside the card. If you want this stamp set, be sure to get it by January 4th.

The top card has a Garden Green card base. I had to use two patterns of designer paper because I only had this one strip with the evergreens and red berries left, not enough for a full card so I used another pattern for the bottom portion. I used this Real Red Ribbon (retired) to cover up that seam of the two papers, plus for decoration.

The greeting is stamped in Real Red ink and diecut with a one in the Painted Labels Dies. It almost looks like the die is too small for this greeting but it does actually fit.

The second card has a Real Red card base and uses a full front layer of designer paper. I just added a bow to the bottom of the greeting. The greetings are popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals on both cards.

Now if you have time and energy, use whatever dies or punches you have to cut out some greenery and maybe some Red Glimmer Paper berries! I used the leafy dies in the Christmas Banner Dies and the berry die is in the Organic Beauty Dies. Just stick a few in under the greeting. On the second card, I used that really sparkly paper from the previous Sale-A-Bration! You can’t get any more sparkly than that paper!

It does take a little bit of time to die-cut that greenery and berries so if you are down to the wire (as I am!), just skip that part and make the cards without it!

Snowman Magic Christmas Card

Snowman Magic Christmas Card

Back in July, I saw a card on the Stampin’ Pretty blog by Mary Fish using the Snowman Magic Bundle and I just loved it! I didn’t even own this Bundle so after a while I order just the Snowman Dies. At any moment, I was going to copy Mary’s card, but it didn’t happen until now! I guess it’s now or never now that it is just a week until Christmas.

My card isn’t “exactly” like hers because I didn’t buy the stamp set and I used a different background. But it is pretty close! I used Tahitian Tide for this card. It’s one of the “new” In Colors that came out in the Annual Catalog. Such a pretty blue to use with a snow scene!

It has turned cold here in Houston and will get even colder for Christmas so I’m hoping for snow, but I don’t think my wish will come true! It did snow many years ago here on Christmas Eve and we went out and played in the snow a bit on Christmas morning! I even made a tiny snowman that I kept in the freezer for months! It probably wasn’t much bigger than the snowman on this card!

Even without the Snowman Magic Stamp Set, I knew I could use the diecut snowman and make him look okay! I added a bit of the Light Gray Granite Stampin’ Blend on the edges of the snowman plus diecut the scarf and hat and added my own stripes and color with the Dark Real Red Stampin’ Blend. The snowman carrot nose is the smallest thing I have ever seen as a diecut! I just colored it with the Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blend and somehow managed to glue it down on the snowman’s face. Then I drew in the eyes and mouth with the Gray Granite marker. The arms are the next smallest things I’ve ever die cut! I had a brown scrap of cardstock handy.

The frame of snowflakes is a diecut that does all that work for you! Before adhering to the card base, I embossed a piece of vellum using the Whimsical Woodland 3D Embossing Folder. You can see the trees in the background. I also diecut the two green trees on each side of the snowman and three white snowflakes that I added.

I adhered the vellum to the back of this frame piece and since the snowflakes aren’t adhered except to the edges, I just cut a piece of snow for the base by hand and slipped it down into the frame. The snowman and trees are adhered flat to the vellum. Just slip them in where you want them. Then adhere the whole thing with Stampin’ Dimensionals to the card base.

The greeting is stamped in Tahitian Tide ink and die cut with a narrow banner shape in the Stylish Shapes Dies. It is popped up on Dimensionals also.

This was a fun card to make, maybe a little too much for multiples, but there are many things you can do creatively with this set of dies!

Make Your Own Stamped Gift Wrap

Cottage Wreath Stamped Gift Wrapped Package

It’s that time of year! Time for wrapping presents! But what if you run out of store-bought wrapping paper? Or do you only have Christmas wrapping paper and you need to wrap a birthday gift? Just stamp your own paper! Now, this may only work for small gifts, although if you have some of that brown paper they use inside boxes to protect something being mailed you might be able to use that for larger packages. Anyway, keep this idea in mind for someday when you might need it!

I just used a sheet of computer paper to make the beautiful Cottage Wreath gift wrap in the photo above. You could also use cardstock, but it would be heavier and possibly not as easy to wrap around something. This is actually a fun thing to do because random stamping is fun!

I just stamped one of the wreaths in the Cottage Wreaths Stamp Set randomly on the computer paper. I happened to use three different colors of green ink for fun – Granny Apple Green, Soft Succulent, and Pear Pizzazz. Then I stamped the bows on the wreaths in different colors, too – Real Red, Gorgeous Grape, Bermuda Bay, and Daffodil Delight. For the finishing touch, I stamped the “Merry Christmas” greeting in the stamp set in between some of the wreaths. I think it turned out pretty cute! You could make your own gift wrap with almost any of your stamp sets, even words, actually.

I was going to wrap an empty box just to show what my new wrapping paper looked like, but then I thought, I have a ton of family gifts to wrap, I should wrap a REAL gift! So this is a real gift going to my daughter with my homemade gift wrap. I tied on some Real Red Ribbon in a bow and now I have one gift wrapped! I could actually make a tag out of a stamped or diecut wreath that would be cute also.

Cottage Wreath Stamped Gift Wrapped Package

Whether or not you need wrapping paper, just for fun stamp a sheet of your own gift wrap! It’s good for the soul! Make it for Christmas, a birthday, or something crazy! It’s a good way to get even more uses out of your stamps!

Warm Welcome Christmas Presents Card

This is a fun card to make for the holidays! This Warm Welcome Stamp Set and Dies, in the Warm Welcome Bundle, make it easy to make this special card. Who wouldn’t love a stack of Christmas presents right outside your door?!

This Warm Welcome Bundle is coming in the Spring Mini Catalog BUT it was released early for a special online Stampin’ Up! event. So we’ve had a little bit of time to play with it. There are a lot of things you can do with a stamp set and dies like these!

To make this card, I started with a card base of Evening Evergreen, one of the current In Colors. The plaid paper to look kind of like the wallpaper inside this house is from the Fitting Florets Designer Series Paper. The bottom pattern of the designer paper is to look like carpeting or flooring, also in the Fitting Florets DSP.

To get the doorway scene, I die-cut the doorway out of Crumb Cake Cardstock. The die cuts out the doorway piece if you want. Then I used that same die to cut out a piece of Basic White Cardstock. I embossed this Basic White piece using the Whimsical Woodland 3D Embossing Folder. You can buy it at 60% off now on the Last Chance Sale. I love the scene that this embossing folder creates. I added a little shading with Stampin’ Blends on the door and frame. I didn’t have to but I love those Blends!

After adhering the door to the card front, I adhered that white embossed piece inside the doorway to look like the snow-covered mountains outside in the distance! The packages are stamped and diecut, then colored with a few Stampin’ Blends.

The greeting is stamped with Evening Evergreen ink on Basic White Cardstock and diecut. I used one of the Stitched Rectangles but had to use that trick to make it longer to fit the greeting. I don’t know how to explain it but you can find it online. You roll the die through only part of the way, then remove the die but position it farther down the greeting while letting the other end nest back into the part that was already die cut so it is still lined up perfectly.

That’s all there is to this card! On the inside I added a Basic White layer and stamped a greeting on it. Now the card is ready to go!

Don’t forget on Thursday will be the FREE SHIPPING DEAL for one day only, with a $75 or more order! Don’t miss it!

Free Shipping Dec 15 2022 (1)

Chocolate Christmas Candy Treat Holders

These are the cutest little candy holders that you can make for stocking stuffers or table decorations! And they are easy to make, too! Check out the Christmas candy at the grocery store and see what you can find. I bought this box with these Christmas figures probably at Costco. I knew it might come in handy for “craft supplies”!

To make these, just cut a strip of cardstock at 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″. Depending on your candy, you might need to vary that measurement but it worked fine for my little candies! Then score at 3 3/4″ and 4 3/4″, or just score 3 3/4″ from one end, turn the paper, and score at 3 3/4″ from the other end. That leaves space inside the treat holder about one inch wide to hold the candy. Instead of these candy figures, you could use a small cello bag of assorted candies and in that instance, maybe you need to make that inside space a bit wider.

If you want to make a window on the front, (Of course you do!!) just choose a punch or die that will fit your project. For mine, I used one of the Painted Labels Dies. You could also use a punch of some kind. Just make sure that your candy will show through the hole as you like. If you want to decorate with designer paper, as I did with the Sweetest Candy Designer Series Paper, cut that to fit on the treat holder front BEFORE you cut the hole in the cardstock. If you adhere the DSP first, then you don’t have to worry about matching the two openings.

Chocolate Christmas Candy Treat Holder

It might be helpful to adhere a window sheet on the inside to keep the candy safe inside. You may have “official” Window Sheets in your stash or you may find a piece of scrap plastic around the house. I just cut it large enough to cover that window and applied Stampin’ Seal around the edges of the opening. I think the window sheet makes it look quite professional!


Put the candy inside, and to hold it in place, use a few Glue Dots but be very careful not to get any glue in contact with the chocolate. No one wants to eat a Glue dot! I stuck about two or three on the back of the candy figures, but you could also use one on the bottom of the figure.

Once the candy is in place, hold the top together and punch two holes for the ribbon with whatever punch you have. Use your favorite ribbon to tie it closed.

For the snowman treat holder, I added some die-cut snowflakes using the Snowman Dies. Since I had a scrap of White Glimmer Paper I used that for the snowflakes. When I spotted the tree in the die set I cut one out of a scrap of green cardstock I had and adhered that on the side of the snowman. You can decorate these little things however you like! You could add a small greeting or add some jewels or sequins for some bling!

Here are some Easter treats I made almost the same way.

These little Chocolate Christmas Candy Treat Holders are quick and easy to make and will make a fun gift or treat or decoration for everyone!

Framed Florets Blue & Pink Christmas Card

Framed Florets Blue & Pink Christmas Card

For something different, I used the Fitting Florets paper to make this Christmas card with its nontraditional colors! Some of us are still making Christmas cards and getting them ready to mail so here is another idea perhaps you can use!

This Fitting Florets Designer Series Paper is available through January 4, 2023, as part of the early release of the Framed Florets Bundle which will be in the upcoming Spring Mini Catalog in January. Some of the papers are florals and others have more generic patterns. Then some have patterns that you can use for Christmas cards without looking Christmasy!

One of the coordinating colors of this designer paper is Balmy Blue so I used that for the card base. That’s almost all you need for this card – just the card base, the designer paper layer, and the greeting! This pattern in the Fitting Florets Designer Paper looks particularly appropriate for Christmas with its foliage and pinkish berries. I chose another pattern and cut out some of the blue flowers and foliage to add to the greeting.

The greeting is stamped with the fun stamp set, also an extra product with the Framed Florets Suite, the Framed & Festive Stamp Set, available until Jan. 4th. This is a Christmas greeting set with a fun font and sayings. I stamped the greeting in Polished Pink ink on Basic White and die-cut it with one of the oval frames in the Framed Florets Dies. Next, I used the same die with Polished Pink cardstock to get the pink frame around the oval greeting.

For some embellishment, I used the Metallic Mesh Ribbon. I adhered that behind the designer paper and the greeting, then tied a separate bow with two pieces of ribbon and adhered it with Glue Dots. And of course, I had to add some Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels to the greeting!

Remember, the Last Chance Sale for the Holiday Mini Catalog is going on so check out what discounts might still be available!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

Candy Cane Christmas Gift Bag

Candy Cane Christmas Gift Bag

One of my favorite papercrafting things is decorating the front of a bag I may have picked up while shopping and turning it into a gift bag like this Candy Cane Christmas Gift Bag! It’s so easy to do and you can quickly increase your stash of gift bags that are ready for the holidays or other occasions throughout the year! Basically, it is like making a card to put on the front of the bag!

Since this bag was green, I thought I would use the Sweetest Christmas paper. I copied (pretty much) a sample in the Holiday Mini Catalog on page 11. My cute Sweetest Christmas Designer Series Paper is almost gone so my bag looks a little different than the sample in the catalog. Also, they made stamped and diecut leaves but I just stamped the holly and other leaves.

The leave, berries, and banner are from the Christmas Banners Stamp Set. The candy cane I just hand-cut from designer paper but I could have used a die in the Candy Canes Dies. I’m not sure how they made the banner on the card in the catalog, but I stamped mine with Memento Ink and then colored it with Pool Party Stampin’ Blends. Instead of the red ribbon behind the banner, I just tied a bow at the top of the tag shape that is the background for the candy cane and leaves.

Look at your stash of grocery sacks and shopping bags and see what you can find! If you don’t have one of these special bags, you can purchase them at a craft store.

Have fun decorating some Christmas gift bags!

Candy Cane Christmas Gift Bag Closeup

Monochromatic Jingle Christmas Card

Monochromatic Jingle Christmas Card

You can make this simple Monochromatic Jingle Christmas Card in red and white, and if you have them, you can add a Flat Jingle Bell Trinket (no longer available). It’s so funny how you can “know” when you have your card right. I kind of tried out some different layouts with the designer paper and cardstock layers but the card was too plain. Once I added the ribbon and bow across the bottom, and especially the Jingle Bell, I knew that was IT! Just that little touch, for me, made it perfect!

The card base is Real Red and I used the ever-popular Sweetest Christmas Designer Series Paper. This paper will be retiring with the Holiday Mini Catalog on January 4th or while supplies last. It’s not discounted but it is on the Last Chance List. It’s best now that the sale started to just look in the Online Store and see what is still available rather than looking at the original list.

The diagonal stripe paper is 5 1/4″ x 4″. The “Jingle” is stamped in Real Red ink on Basic White Cardstock. The name of the stamp set is Jingle Jingle Jingle so that is easy to remember! I diecut it with one of the Stitched Rectangles Dies. At first, I was going to layer it on another rectangle in Real Red but I wasn’t happy with that. Then I decided to add the red piece with the white polka dots as a layer under the greeting. It measures 4″ x 1 1/4″. The “Jingle” rectangle is 3 1/4″ x 1 1/4″. You can vary the sizes of both.

The ribbon is the Real Red Ribbon in the Combo Pack with Garden Green. I just adhered a strip across the bottom portion of the designer paper and added a bow separately, adhered with Mini Glue Dots.

As I said, for the finishing touch I added one of the Flat Jingle Bell Trinkets that I already had. They are sold out now, unfortunately. I looked in my retired stash and found this red & white twine so I used that on the bell. Otherwise, you can just add some white twine or Linen Thread, whatever you have. If you don’t have the bell, you can stamp one in the Jingle Jingle Jingle Stamp Set.

Now that you have all the information to make this card, it would be pretty quick & easy to make! On the inside, I added a layer of Basic White stamped with a greeting from the Brightest Glow Stamp Set. And in the corner, I stamped the little bell in the Jingle Jingle Jingle Stamp Set and the little bow that goes with it.

This is the fun season of making Christmas cards so put on some Christmas music and just enjoy the process (if you are still working on Christmas cards!).

Rudolph the Reindeer Gift Bag

I think every year I make some kind of Rudolph Gift Bag so here is one for 2022. It’s so quick and easy to make, not to mention fun to see Rudolph develop right before your eyes!

This is a typical 2-4-6-8 bag (or box, however you want it to end up!) that we all know how to make. I used a piece of Early Espresso Cardstock since in previous years I usually use Soft Suede. This reindeer has darker fur! Start with a piece of cardstock cut at 6″ x 8 1/2″. Score at 2″, 4″, 6″, and 8″, then turn the paper lengthwise and score at 2″. Cut on the score lines of those small squares which will be the bottom of the bag, up to the 2″ score line. Cut off the tiny 1/2″ piece in the bottom corner. See diagram below.

2-4-6-8 Treat Bag Diagram

Apply adhesive to that 1/2″ flap and fold over to adhere to opposite side. Fold in the bottom flaps and use adhesive to hold them closed. Pinch the sides and the top of the bag to close. Before closing the bag for good, adhere the gold foil diecut antlers to the inside of the bag . I used a leafy die in the Christmas Banners Dies. I thought this reindeer should be spiffy with golden antlers!

For the eyes, use any white paper, but since I had scraps of the Real Red & White Glimmer Paper handy, I thought Rudolph might look good with glimmery eyes! I colored in the center of the eye with a Sharpie. I used a retired 1/2″ Circle Punch to make the eyes but you could just cut them out by hand.

Rudolph’s red nose is the Red Glimmer Paper. If you don’t have red glimmer paper, color some other glimmer paper with a red marker or red ink. I used a retired 3/4″ Circle Punch for his nose.

I thought maybe Rudolph, for something different, should have some fancy eyelashes! To make them show up, I used Sahara Sand cardstock and punched half circles with the 1/2″ Circle Punch and cut the little lashes by hand. Not sure I think they look that great but maybe it’s ok! Gotta try new things!

If you want to close up the top of the box, just punch a couple of holes and thread some ribbon through to tie a bow. I used the Gold Shimmer Ribbon to match the gold antlers.

Use the gift bag for a small gift or candy or anything that will fit! Modify the measurements if you want it a little taller or shorter. It’s such an easy thing to make, but you might not know that until you make one!

Check out the Last Chance Sale in the Stampin’ Up! store plus the Clearance Rack! Some items went fast yesterday!

Easy Painted Christmas Card

If you want to make a quick and easy Christmas card, it doesn’t get much easier than this Easy Painted Christmas Card. And it is almost time to really be making those quick and easy cards! We still have a little time yet, though! Not time to panic yet!

You can use ANY designer paper to make a card like this one. I chose Painted Christmas Designer Series Paper, one that was brought back from last year so you probably have it in your stash. If you don’t have it, beginning tomorrow, it will be 50% off in the Last Chance Sale!! This is the sale of select products that will be retired from the Holiday Mini so may be your “last chance” to get some of these products!

I used a Real Red card base and just used this generic red “baubles” pattern in the designer paper for the card front. I already had this Tailor Made Tag diecut in my Basic White package of cardstock so I used it and just stamped the greeting from the Brightest Glow Stamp Set in Real Red ink.

If you don’t have the tag dies, just cut a rectangle with your Paper Trimmer or maybe you have another die shape or punch you can use. Add some ribbon and/or some embellishments. I found these Festive Pearls in my drawer that I really hadn’t used. They are tiny and come in different colors…Cherry Cobbler, gold, silver, and Soft Succulent.

On the inside, add a Basic White layer with a stamped or handwritten greeting or message, and maybe add a strip of designer paper to the inside just for some extra decoration. There! You have a very simple card that looks just fine! The recipient will ooh and ahh over it and it only took you a minute to make! Be sure to pick easy designs when you are making multiples, especially a lot of multiples of Christmas cards!

Check out the Last Chance Sale tomorrow PLUS the Clearance Rack refresh! If you need any gifts for papercrafting friends, maybe you can pick out a few things they would like!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE TOMORROW!!