White Elephant Ornament and Gift Box

Happy Thursday! Do you have any annual Christmas traditions that you enjoy? I have a few, and a favorite is the annual Christmas luncheon I go to with a group of friends I've known since grammar school. We call ourselves the Pink Panthers because our school mascot was a panther and "pink" is because we aren't old enough for the Red Hat Club...yet. 8~D  I'll be seeing this fabulous group of ladies this coming Saturday, and as part of our tradition, we will be having a white elephant ornament exchange. If you've never participated in a white elephant exchange, you should get some friends or family together and try it. Who knew stealing from your friends could be so much fun!!!

I usually buy an ornament for the exchange, and it's always fun searching for just the right ornament, but this year I decided to make one. The Outlines Monday Challenge 28--"Hang It Up" is to make an ornament, so the timing is perfect. As an added bonus, I made a matching gift box, too.

I used the Jewel Topper stamp from Outlines Rubber Stamp Co, stamping the design once on olive cs and once on burgundy cs. I cut the designs out, cutting more from the green cs, since I layered it on top of the burgundy cs. Using various colors of Stickles I gave it LOTS of holiday sparkle, and I added six rhinestones to the top layer. I used clear rhinestones and colored them with Copic markers to get the exact color I wanted. If you go to the Outlines website, they have a great tutorial on how to make this topper. I didn't follow it exactly, but it was still a big help.

The matching gift box is another Secret Box (I absolutely LOVE making these boxes!), but I only put the bottom tray in it this time. It's the perfect size for an ornament. I just have to tilt the ornament a little sideways and tuck the cardstock topper points in carefully. I decorated all four sides and the top with the same Jewel Topper stamp design. I trimmed the design after embossing it so that it would fit on the box panels. The dark yellow circular layer is a Classic Scalloped Circle die cut that I embossed with a Sizzix Damask embossing folder. Then, I sponged the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, and coated with a Mod Podge/glitter mixture. 

Since I only had one tray in the bottom of this box, I had to put the magnet there to hold the box closed. You can see it in the photo on the left, below. I was afraid it wouldn't work right if it wasn't in the center of the box, but it holds fine there.

 

This ornament was fun to make and it turned out so pretty. I have plenty of ornaments for my tree, but I have a feeling I'm going to end up having to make a few more of these to add to my collection. I'd also like to make a few of these sets to keep on hand for gifts. Whew! I'm going to need more hours in my days! 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fantastic day!

~Hugs,

 

Stamps: Jewel Topper (Outlines Rubber Stamp Co.)
Paper: Kraft, Burgundy, Olive Green, & Dark Yellow cardstock
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; clear embossing ink (Inkssentials); Copic markers (E29, RV69)
Dies: Classic Scalloped Circles Sm (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Ornament; gold embossing powder (Zing); Mod Podge; Glitter (Martha Stewart); rhinestones; Damask embossing folder (Sizzix); gems (Studio 112); Stickles (gold, diamond, lime green, burgundy, cinnamon, copper); foam dots
Size: Box--3" cube

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Happy Turkey Day!

Hi Friends! I've got a cute turkey card to share with you today, but before I do, I have to show you the blog candy I received from Melissa at Tuesday Morning Sketches for winning the Think Pink challenge in October.

Wow! What fab candy! She even sent me three of the beautiful cards she made during the month-long challenge. If you haven't played along at Tuesday Morning Sketches, mosey on over there and give it a try. You'll love her sketches! Melissa just posted the newest sketch today, so you have until this coming Sunday at 8PM to enter.

And, as a reminder, the Prickley Pear Rubber Stamp November sketch challenge is open to everyone now. You don't have to use PPRS stamps, and you have until November 30th to enter. You should see the samples the DT have for the challenge this week...AWESOME!

Now for that turkey card. The sketch is Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 143, and the Outlines Monday Challenge 26 theme is Thanksgiving or Fall.

Isn't that little guy sweet? Not too happy looking, though, is he? I guess I can't blame him, this time of year. I colored him with Copics, put Glossy Accents on his beak, and black Enamel Accents on his eyes. The dark red shiny dots in the corners of the turkey square were colored with a Copic, then covered with Glossy Accents, too. Now that they've dried, they look like little bits of cranberry sauce on the card. I used Stickles on the green border around the turkey.

For the sentiment, I cut the tag out of white cs, then sponged Peeled Paint Distress Ink on the edges, then Walnut Stain. I sponged Wild Honey over the entire tag, then sprayed it with Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold (I just LOVE that stuff!). The sentiment is heat embossed in Chocolate Brown.

I think the stitch I used around the bg paper is called a feather stitch. I thought it was appropriate for a turkey card. The burgundy stitching along the sides of the dp layer is the same stitch I used on my Holiday Surprise card a few days ago. This time, I didn't make any sudden jags while sewing, but did end up with slight curved lines rather than straight ones. I think I need to practice using that stitch before I use it on another card. To make it, the machine has to do a lot of forward and backward movements and it makes the paper jump around. It's a cool stitch if I can learn to control it!!! :) The bottom edge of the dp is punched with a scallop punch and I distressed the top with my Distrezzer. Fantastic tool, by the way.

I went a little crazy with the Stickles, but I just love sparkle on a card, and the Fleur de Lis die cut looked a little bare without it.

And, of course, I couldn't have all that glam on the front and not have just a little bit inside, too.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! And, don't forget to play in the Prickley Pear Sketch Challenge, as well as the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge. Fab sketches, sweet prizes!

~Hugs,
 

Stamps: Turkey Square Lg, Tiny Happy Turkey Day (Outlines Rubber Stamps)
Paper: Tim Coffey Fall Nat Pad (K&Co); Shimmer Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Memento; Versamark; Colorbox; Copic markers
Dies: Fleur de Lis Pendants, Fancy Tags, Curved Rectangles (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Scallop Diamond Edge Punch (EK Success); embossing powder (Zing); Clair de Lune velvet ribbon (Fancy Pants Design); satin ribbon (Michaels); Stickles; Enamel Accents (Inkssentials); Pearl Pen; Glossy Accents; Perfect Pearls Mist; sewing thread; foam dots
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

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Winter Owl

Hi Friends! Sorry I've been absent for so long. I've been making cards that won't be posted for a week or so. But, I finally finished one that I can share now, and it is so cute! It's for a challenge that is new to me: the Outlines Monday Challenge 24. The theme this week is Friendly Fliers--something that flies, butterflies, dragonflies, ladybugs, etc., and I just happened to order this adorable Winter Owl stamp about a week ago, so it was perfect!

When I started coloring this little guy, I was just playing around, figuring I would toss this one, re-stamp it and color it up for real later, but the more I worked on it, the more I liked it, so I kept it. I used Copics to color it, a Snow Marker for the trim on his hat, Stickles for all the glitter, Enamel Accents, Liquid Pearls, and Glossy Accents for his eyes. The close up photo at the top shows the sparkle really well.

All the patterned paper is digital, but before I printed it out, I altered the color to make it more vivid and just a little yellow. The blue snowflake bg paper is also digital, and I altered it to make it lighter and more vivid, but I can't remember the designer. I'll add that information in here later, if I can find it out.

I absolutely love all these dp's, so I used them all again on the inside. I'll be using this paper again, I'm sure.

Well, my DD and I are off to see Puss in Boots, so I'll leave you here.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fantastic weekend!

~Hugs,  

 
Stamps: Winter Owl, Happy Happy Holidays (Outlines Rubber Stamp Co.)
Paper: Happy Go Lucky Stripe-colors altered, Happy Go Lucky Paisley-colors altered (Shabby Princess-digital papers); Dark Blue Distressed with Snowflakes-colors altered (digital, designer unknown)
Ink: Memento; Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Copic markers
Dies: Lacy Squares, Classic Ric Rac, Labels One (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Ribbon (Michaels); flower (Recollections); Liquid Pearls; Enamel Accents (Inkssentials); Corner Chomper; colored pencils (Prismacolor); Stickles; Glossy Accents; ; Snow Marker (Marvy); sewing thread
Size: A6 (4.5" x 6.25")

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