November 2014

It seems like it's been a long time since I've posted. I took a short break from here and my scrapbooking. I usually am in my room, creating but I just haven't felt like it. Unfortunately my dad passed away on November 18th and family has taken priority as it should. We all knew he was failing fast, but it's hard to believe he's gone. At least he went peacefully in his sleep, and was not in any pain. My mom is doing pretty good, considering she has lost her husband of 65 years.

Christmas was my dad's favourite time of year and we are all determined to celebrate it as best we can in his honour. I have a few projects that I had completed before his passing, but I haven't shared so I will be doing this, hopefully this week. One of these is my last post with the Tim Holtz Media Team. Tim has made the decision and I'm sure a very hard one for him, to end the Media Team. He has worked very hard to build his brand and, as far as I'm concerned, has the best customer and fan base ever! I can see why he has missed them and the interaction on his blog. Working in a store, and helping customers with their purchases, projects, sharing ideas and just inspiring them is so rewarding for me and I know I would miss that part of scrapbooking if it ever ended. I am so lucky and grateful that I was chosen to represent the Tim Holtz brand, even if it was for a short time. So, hopefully I can finish editing my photos and post my tutorial this week.

For now, here is a card I have done for the Sizzix Design Team:

This card has lots of layers! I embossed the top layer with Sizzix's Tim Holtz 660043 Holiday Knit folder, then die-cut the center out with Tim Holtz Labels thinlit die . The edge was accented with Liquid Pearls. The next layer was die-cut with Tim's Block Holiday Words thinlit set. These thinlit dies use the negative space. I cut this slightly larger than the embossed layer and pop-dotted it to the woodgrain patterned paper (from Webster's Pages Nest and also Gingerbread Collection). I then added in a red cardstock layer, slightly larger than the die-cut paper. I finished off with another white cardstock layer, about 1/4 border all around. This was adhered to my white cardstock base.

My white winter greens were die-cut using the Tim Holtz Holiday Greens thinlit die set. I can't stop using this die set! Love, love, love!! To finish off my card, I added in some Petaloo Sugared Blooms.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

Welcome to the final day of the 4th Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop! We hope you enjoyed the projects from the last 2 days! A few years ago we were looking online for handmade gift ideas and thought it would be great if there was a resource dedicated JUST to handmade gift ideas. Enter the Handmade Holidays hop! We've gathered over 100 of our creative blogger friends in the craft industry as well as some of our fellow product manufacturers to bring you a plethora of inspiring gift ideas you can make now to give to your friends, family, and colleagues. Pin and bookmark these ideas for this holiday season and to use throughout the year! Each day of the hop features approximately 30 gift projects and you can "hop" from one blog to another to check them all out.

Here's a gift idea that I have made a few times. These decorative cones are fun to make and perfect for any occasion or holiday. With my Sizzix dies, I am able to create all kinds of cone accents!

I've filled these cones with treats, small gifts, gift certificates, or ornaments. The recipient can use the cone for decoration, even place a small leakproof container inside to display flowers. Here's how I created my cone:

I started off with a 12" papermache cone from a craft store. You can make your own cone out of heavy cardboard, but I like the sturdiness and convenience of these cones.

I made a template out of copy paper to use for tracing onto patterned paper. I just wrapped it around the cone and marked the edges out where I needed to cut out a pattern. I have just wrapped the patterned paper around before, but I have made a few mistakes! I don't want to mess up my good paper and this way I have better control of where I want my pattern. This paper is from Webster's Pages beautiful new collection called Nest.

Glue your paper on with liquid adhesive. I use Ranger's Matte Medium.

Paint the inside with acrylic paint.

I'm going to give the directions for the medallion first, as that is what I started with. I think next time, I would probably do the top of the cone first so the medallion doesn't get damaged. Cut out a strip of crepe paper (about 4" wide) and fold in half. I usually just use a long length as I'm not sure how much I will end up using. Machine stitch a basting(bigger) stitch along the folded edge, leaving threads on each end so they can be gathered up. Using pinking or decorative scissors or even Sizzix's On the Edge dies, trim the other edge to your desired width.

Gather your strip of crepe paper. Next I put some white glue as shown, on my craft mat. I took my strip and ran the edge through the glue.

Pour glitter (I used Tim Holtz Distress Glitter) over the glued edge. Shake off the excess. Set aside to dry.

For the round medallion, I used Sizzix's Scallop Circle Framelit set. I cut out two, one for the top layer, and a darker one for the bottom. The word, "Celebrate" was cut out from Sizzix's Gift Card Thinlit Die Set. This die works a little different, it's the negative space that you use. That's why I cut out a darker piece of paper so the word shows up better. I used pop dots around the edge and adhered the top circle to the bottom.

Adhere the gathered crepe paper to the back of your circle. You'll probably have extra, just cut off the excess.

Next I cut out my bird on a branch using Sizzix's Tim Holtz Bird Branch Bigz die. I also cut out another one, clipping off the bird. I used a white mat board from Sizzix, called Little Sizzles. I really like this stuff, it's like a light foam core/mat board covered in white paper. It's super light weight and cut's beautifully. If you are using chipboard, paint it white after your shape is cut out.

I applied glossy accents all over my die-cuts and then covered with Tim Holtz Rock Candy Glitter. After they were dry, I lightly inked the bird with distress ink.

I applied glue dots to the ends of my branches and stuck them through the middle of my two pop-dotted circles. You will probably have to check first, to see if they need to be clipped so they don't interfere with the"Celebrate" cut out. After I took this photo, I decided I need another bird, so I flipped one to face the other way and added the glitter treatment. Before going onto the trim on the top of the cone, I punched out two small holes on either side of the cone for my ribbon handle.

I used the Sizzix Mini Paper Rosette Decorative strip die and cut out four of each size with coloured vellum from Webster's Pages Nest collection.

This is how I folded my strips.

These two white cardstock border pieces were cut out using Sizzix's Damask and Scallop Border Thinlit set. I felt it was a bit too wide, so I cut off a small amount from the top. This will be covered by the vellum.

Adhere the white damask cardstock border to the cone first. Next, adhere the folded vellum border. I positioned it about 1/8 of inch below the top edge.

I applied my strip of 1/4" wide adhesive against the edge and over the edge of the vellum border. Adhere the smaller vellum folded border as shown in the photo.

There's some exposed adhesive still, but it will provide some added sticking power to the next die-cut.

After die-cutting the Sizzix Vintage Lace Decorative Strip with white cardstock, I chose one and inked the edges. I threaded some very thin velvet ribbon through the holes and applied adhesive to the back.

Before adhering this strip on top of the vellum border, I threaded my ribbon handle through the holes. I had to re-punch my holes, as the vellum covered them up, but because I had previously punched holes through the cone, they were easy to locate and punch through. The lace strip was then adhered to the cone.

I then chose another vintage lace strip, inked it and then adhered to the inside of the cone. It covers up the bare edge and finishes it off.

I adhered a small portion of a beaded trimming and on top of that, a laced vintage lace strip to cover the edge.

To finish off my cone, I added some hand cut feathers from my patterned paper collection, a vintage watch face, and a postage stamp die-cut from Sizzix's Tim Holtz Label Thinlit set.

My cone is finished! I cut out thin strips of vintage book paper, scrunched them, and used them for the filling inside my cone.

Here's another photo of my finished cone. I think I'm going to make a Christmas one too, I have some beautiful snowflake dies I want to use. For more inspiration, I've previously made a Halloween one here, and two here.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Your next stop is Rochelle Washington from RoseRedd Paper Studio.

Jan

Are you ready for lots more creative handmade gift ideas and projects??
Follow along on our blog hop! Simply click on each of the links below to be taken to that post with additional information and photos on how to create a handmade gift project. Have fun and pin away!

Clearsnap

Westcott

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Ellison Educational Equipment

ICE Resin

Neat and Tangled

Therm O Web

Walnut Hollow

Elizabeth Craft Designs

Rowland Technologies

Graphic 45

Hydrangea Hippo