Nordic Noel Thank You Notes

Welcome back, friend!  I find that for as many Christmas cards I send out, I also need a stack of thank you notes for all the thoughtful gifts we receive from family and friends at Christmas time.  So, I love to set aside a few Christmas paper scraps to make up some thank you notes to have on hand to send out after Christmas Day.  I enjoyed using a two-step stamping technique on the coffee cup on the card below--if you click on the image to enlarge it, you will find that you can see all sorts of fun wintry and warm words in the swirls on the cup!

Supplies used (CTMH unless otherwise specified): Nordic Noel paper and buttons from SU, cocoa ink, cranberry ink, white daisy card bases, red baker's twine, wood grain washi tape, gold reindeer clips from SU, cocoa cardstock, SU scalloped circle punch, slate washi tape from SU

Stamps used: Wonderland workshop stamp set (CTMH, retired), October SOTM 2014 (CTMH, retired), Card chatter Christmas (CTMH, retired), 

Christmas Accordion Display Card

I had a lot of fun piecing together this accordion display card using the Nordic Noel paper pack (on clearance!) and Nordic Noel buttons and red pom-pom trim from Stampin' Up.  The pattern came from a card kit from the uber-talented Christine Adams with CTMH.  It actually uses two 12 x 6 strips of cardstock that you adhere together to make a double-wide accordion card that has so much dimension and is truly a gift in itself!

Here it is unfolded--feel free to click on the image to make it larger and in more detail:

 Here is both of the right and left front covers.  I just LOVE those gold reindeer paper clips from the current SU holiday catalog!  Sentiments are from the Frosted WOTG stamp set (CTMH) and the 2014 October SOTM (CTMH, both retired) stamped in Cranberry ink:

 A few peeks at some of the inside facets of the card...

 (Sentiment above is from Card Chatter Christmas, CTMH, retired)

And one more time all closed up!

Other supplies used: Tim Holtz tiny attatcher, white 3" Wilton doilies, gold polka dot washi tape (CTMH)

Nations Advent Calendar

Here's a quick look at one of our favorite Advent traditions!  It is hand-crafted and contains 24 hand-stitched dolls from around the nations.  We take one out each day in the month of December and read the card attached to the day for the day to learn more about that particular people-group and pray over their needs.

Here is the site where you can get your own Advent calendar--it makes a special gift, too!

Vintage-Inspired Chalkboard Art: Christmas Mantle

 Before you go out and spend $$$ on a trendy (but-oh-so-beautiful) Christmas decor item for your mantle...WAIT!!  Here's a fast and easy DIY crafty project that can update your mantle in less than an hour! I had a BLAST whipping this out last night (although the hubs thought I was crazy at first LOL!), and I thought I'd take a minute to explain how I did it to help and inspire you, too!

Okay, what you need is a chalkboard--I simply unscrewed the chalkboard off of my littlest one's easel (this one) and popped it right off--love the fact that it already had the holes I needed for hanging!

Next, using this chalkboard printable for inspiration, I used white chalk to draw the sentiment onto the board (skinny side for most of the letters--wide side for "COME"). Then I added a bit of washable Crayola red paint over the "COME" letters.  Last, I outlined all the white cursive letters with a chalkboard marker to really make them POP.  Above you will see an up-close picture of the chalkboard--feel free to click on the image to see it larger and in greater detail!

  

To hang, I simply knotted a burlap ribbon through the holes in either corner of the chalkboard and strung it up on a removable Command hook.  Then, I added a wire-on prefab chevron burlap bow I snagged off of my fall wreath (bought at Michael's).

Here's the final look of the mantle, complete with a curtain rod which came out of my basement to hold the stockings--love that I can slide them down to add more when family comes into town for Christmas morning! 

I hope you enjoyed this Pinterest-inspired and FREE Christmas mantle update using your kids' craft items!  It was fun to put together and will be fun to enjoy all season long!

Nordic Noel Christmas Cards

When the holidays approach, I tend to hit up craft therapy to keep me calm and content!  Here are some fun Christmas cards I whipped up using CTMH's colonial white die-cut cards and Stampin' Up Nordic Noel paper pack (both on clearance!).

My favorite part is in the details--feel free to click on each image to see it closer and more indepth.  I love the red pom-pom trim and Nordic Noel buttons, and especially the gold-tone reindeer paper clips (all from SU!).

Papers used: Nordic Noel (SU!)
Ink: Cranberry (CTMH)
Stamps: Frosted WOTG stamp set (CTMH, retired), Pear and Partridge WOTG stamp set (CTMH, retired)

Christmas Gift Packaging

I have had a TON of fun this year designing little gift packaging for my teacher friends and neighbors.  Treats like these are a great way to let that person know how extra-special they are!  Check out just a few ideas below...

This gift bag is designed like a purse, complete with a little pocket in front and a velcro dot flap closure!  I received the pattern from a retired club kit from the uber-talented, Lisa Stenz

An up-close picture of the flower detail on front (flower punch from SU!, retired)...

This is a "bag in a box" design, made from a retired club kit from Lisa Stenz years ago.  Believe it or not, you can make TWO of these from ONE page of 12x12 patterned cardstock!

This is a fry box--pattern from Oriental Trading Company:

This is a gable box--pattern from Oriental Trading Company:

The tags were made by myself using CTMH cranberry ink and white cardstock, CTMH stamps from the SOTM October 2014 stamp set (retired), white clothes pins, red bakers twine, and assorted paper scraps.

Paper used: SU! Nordic Noel (retired), red pom-pom trim (SU!) and Nordic Noel buttons (SU!, retired)

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Need an easy and fun gift for neighbors or teachers?  Look no further! We put together these Frozen-inspired snowman kits last year and they were very well-received and fun for us to assemble as a family!

I found these wicker top hat baskets at Michael's craft store (50% off!):

They already had the plaid trim, holly leaves, and berries on them! BONUS!

Then we cut 3" x 36" strips of red felt (also purchased at Michael's) and fringed the ends with scissors:

Next, we found a bag topper online, which I printed using color ink on white cardstock paper.  Here's a link to the free printable download. We simply cut them out and then stapled them on top of snack-sized zip top bags filled with baby carrots.

Lastly, we placed about half-a-dozen black stones in each hat (Michael's) and found a few twigs and sticks from the backyard to complete our snowman kit.  And as a special touch, we stamped a little gift tag using this stamp, punched it out with a 2" circle punch (Marvy) and slipped it in the hat brim.

Here is the kit with everything laid out for you to see!  

We enjoyed our kit throughout the winter as did many of our neighbors!  

Building fun for everyone!

Christmas Minibooks

 Just wanted to show you these fun Christmas minibooks I have made throughout the years!  The top one (green) is made from a Making Memories kit I found at Target 5 or 6 years ago...the striped one is made from patterned paper I found online paired with a Maya Road tabbed chipboard album.

 This one is titled "Reclaiming Christmas" and speaks to the true reason for Christmas in my eyes...faith in Christ, family, special childhood memories...

 This green one is more like Ali Edward's December Daily--it chronicles the month of December in our family day-by-day...

These mini books are fun to put out in our family room during the holidays for everyone to enjoy.  I hope you had a very special Christmas, my friend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  Thank you for joining me each day on my December Card Extravaganza! I hope you were able to get some creative ideas for your Christmas cards this year.  Please enjoy a blessed time with your family and friends celebrating the true reason for the season...our Savior Christ the Lord!

Frosted Peace and Joy Card

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used (CTMH): Frosted WOTG stamp set and patterned paper, silver glimmer gems, silver embossing powder and Versamark ink

Snowman Like You

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used (CTMH): Frosted paper pack, Snowman image and sentiment Pair-A-Phrase stamp set, Always Grateful stamp set (tree), Peace and Joy sentiment Frosted WOTG stamp set, gem flourishes (Michaels)

'Tis the Season Card

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies Used: Season of Style stack pack/washi tape/journaling tags (SU)

Joy Subway Card

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used (CTMH): Poster Tidings stamp set, Twilight ink, Frosted paper pack, silver baker's twine, cocoa cardstock, aqua dots

Warm Winter Wishes

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used (CTMH): Silver embossing powder, Versamark ink, Stamp image and sentiment Frosted WOTG, Frosted paper pack, silver glitter gems

Let It Snow

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used (SU): Season of Style stack pack, Season of style journal tags, silver gemstone flourish (Michaels), poinsetta (CTMH)

Ice Skating Penguin

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used (CTMH): Wintry Wishes stamp set, slate ink, black ink, Frosted paper pack, silver baker's twine

Hot Chocolate Card

Happy December! I will be embarking upon a daily blogging extravaganza to showcase a new handmade card I have made in anticipation of the Christmas season. Some cards are designed for Christmas Day...others have more of a wintry theme, but either way, sit back, grab your favorite warm beverage, and enjoy the eye candy! Be sure to stop by each day for fresh inspiration! I hope you and yours have a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Supplies used (CTMH): Frosted paper pack, slate epoxy bubbles, gemstone flourish (Michaels), Twilight Ink (stamped in first and second generation), slate cardstock, Wonderland WOTG stamp set