AWH Blog Hop: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Today some of the Art with Heart Stampin’ Up! team girls have created some amazing Christmas projects to inspire you with the theme,

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
 

We have tags, gift bags, teacher gift ideas, decorations and many more fun projects to create this holiday season.

I have been with Stampin' Up! for many years, mainly as a hobby demo, but this year I began holding classes which have become very popular and very enjoyable.  This is the first time I have ever taken part in a blog hop, and as I was rather chuffed to have been invited to join in, I may have overdone it just a little, but hope you will enjoy my Christmas offerings.

It IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and as usual, SU have a great range of papers to suit every taste - traditional or modern.   I fell in love with the new Copper Foil and have used it as my main feature, teaming it up with Dapper Denim, Sky Blue and Whisper White.  

So ....... it's time to Deck the Halls ....and how better than with a special banner. 

 


I do love banners!
 

Look how beautifully that copper foil glints.

Banner Details: Cookie Cutter Christmas stamp set; Cookie Cutter Punch;
Candy Cane Lane DSP; Candy Cane Christmas stamp set;
Copper Foil; Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.

With the halls decked it's time to make the Christmas cards!!!!   I started earlier than usual this year as I held a class in October, and instead of making the same card for everyone, this year there will be lots of different ones to choose from.  I made two each of four different cards to complement my Christmas display.



Bird Card Details:  Whisper White card ; Soft Sky card;

Woodland Embossing folder;

Best Birds stamp set; Birds and Blooms thinlets;
Tin of Tags stamp set; Copper embossing powder;

Embellished Ornaments stamp set.  



 Lovely as a Tree Card Details:

Whisper White card; Dapper Denim card; Pretty Paisleys embossing folder;

Lovely as a Tree stamp set; Gorgeous Grunge stamp set;

Embellished Ornaments stamp set; Copper embossing powder.

I couldn't pass on making a card featuring the reindeer, although, unfortunately the tone on tone  stamping doesn't show up very well.  I based this card on one I saw by Jerim Dickins at Willowpiggy blog.

 

Reindeer Card Details: Dapper Denim card; Whisper White card;

Cookie-Cutter Christmas stamp set; Oh, What Fun stamp set.

 

"Lovely as a Tree" stars again in this shaker card.  The Confetti Stars Border Punch was used to cut the little copper stars.  Just love this card, because if you look closely you will see my reflection in the window.

While we may not be in the habit of roasting chestnuts in Australia, we most certainly have many traditional Christmas foods and many of us will be giving gifts of our own traditional home baked cakes and goodies or chocolates or chocolates and ... well, you get the idea, so it's time to get those gift boxes made ......



Front of Baker's Box

 

 

 









  





Back of the box showing the handles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...... this one is die cut from Whisper White Thick card with Dapper Denim and Copper trimmings and is made with the Baker's Box Thinlets.  It's a great size for medium sized cupcakes, chocolates or any other gift.

This next lovely box is from a tutorial by Helen Griffin in the UK .  It is really gorgeous and was fun to make.  Filled with Ferrero Rocher chocolates it will make a sweet gift.

Box Details: Dapper Denim card; Floral Boutique dsp; Thoughtful Banners stamp set; Duet Banner Punch.

Sometimes you just need a teeny tiny treat that can be quickly whipped up for all the members of groups you belong to or for your children's classmates and there are many clever novelties to be made.

These tiny little mugs only hold one Ferrero Rocher chocolate, but they are super cute.

I saw these online - made by Brigette Keiling from Stempel-fantasie, who made them as her On Stage gifts.

The idea for these clever little trees comes from Brenda Quintana (Qbees Quest), and hold nine Hershey's Kisses.  

So with all our gifts made, we are going to need some tags, and there's sure to be someone who would love their own box of gift tags as an early present.  So many of my friends gift their own baking at Christmas, so they will be receiving a box of these food themed tags. So many yummy stamp sets to help us create, because "It's the most decadent time of the year"!  This simple little box holds 15 tags including embellishments and layers.
 

Gift Tag Details: Whisper White card: Dapper Denim card; Soft Sky card;

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch; Yummy Little Christmas stamp set;

Candy Cane Christmas stamp set; Oh, What Fun stamp set; Tin of Tags stamp set.

We probably need to make some gift card holders for those difficult delightful people for whom you just cannot get it right.
 

This one is only small so it could fit inside a Christmas card, but it is elegant enough with it's belly band and copper embellishment, to give on it's own with your choice of gift card tucked inside.  It's also economical as you can get 3 from an A4 piece of card.

Gift Card Holder details:
Dapper Denim card;
Cable embossing folder;
Delicate Ornament Thinlets;
Copper Foil; Candy Cane Lane dsp.






So that only leaves the presents to be wrapped.  For many of us that is a job tackled on Christmas Eve right after the shops have finally shut!!  ... and if you've forgotten to buy the wrapping paper, then you can quickly make your own by stamping on the brown paper that SU use as a filler in their delivery boxes ...
 

 ...... or not ??? 

My photography skills are limited, so my Darling Daughter came to the rescue and conducted an amazing photo shoot.  She brought with her some great props and we had loads of fun while she snapped away.  I am delighted with the results and hope you enjoyed her photos too.

If you're still with me, then you deserve a great Christmas with beautifully crafted gifts under your tree.

May your Christmas be filled with family, friends, food and fun, and may the year ahead be a healthy and happy one with time to enjoy the things you love.

Mary

It's time to hop across to Monika O'Neill's blog. 

If you find a broken link or have come to this blog hop from a different entry point, you can view the participants below:

1. Rebecca Jacovou
2. Ros Davidson
3. Kathryn Ruddick
4. Kate Morgan
5. Rachel Palmieri
6. Claire Daly
7. Mary Kelly
8. Monika O'Neill
9. Tina Gillespie
10. Kathryn Mangelsdorf
11. Catherine Proctor
12. Judy May

Merry Christmouse for JAI

Just Add Ink have a colour challenge for us this week.  Not the colours I would normally reach for, and certainly not your usual Christmas colours, but as the Merry Mice set was right in front of me that is the one I went with.  I have tried something a little different. 

I knew what I wanted to do - strip of dsp down one side; partial cutout of the mouse; and very clean and simple!!  Right!  - after an hour of searching I finally found some stripes in the Floral Boutique pack and went with that. 

I found this one harder to photograph than usual.  I seem to have shadows everywhere today. 

Cheers,