Wrapping Up All The Gift Cards (Fun Stampers Journey)

Hello, friends!

With the Christmas holiday right around the corner I've been a busy little elf in my studio, crafting away gift tags, making cards and wrapping up gift cards to present them in a manner that makes them feel a bit more fussed over and special than just handing someone a piece of plastic for their gift. The wrapping job becomes their gift!

Does anyone else have a hard time giving gift cards for Christmas?

Gift cards have never been my favorite gift to give, because they feel so impersonal, but this year we ended up needing to hand out quite a few of them when we had a family Christmas gathering less than 24 hours after arriving home from a 9 day vacation. On the other hand, my kids love to receive a gift card because they love the thrill of being to go to the store and pick out their own thing and pay with their "own" money.

So, to make myself feel less guilt about needing to buy so many gift cards, I spent time making the presentation of them extra special for each person we were gifting them to by tucking some candies inside the Fun Stampers Journey Treat Bags along with the gift card.

For the outside of each of the bags, I simply die-cut an oversized tag using the Tag Set Steel Rule Die in some fun, festive holiday cardstock colors.

I embellished the tags of these last two bags using the Poinsettia Steel Rule Die which has quickly become one of my favorites this holiday season.  It is SO easy to make something look fantastically fussed over with this die and a little bit of Gold Silk splattered across it. Some Rainbow Drops plopped right into the center for a little bling.

Another favorite product that I've been reaching for often in my merry making and gift wrapping is the Holiday Elements Steel Rule Die. The elements in this die are darling and perfect for spreading holiday cheer.  I especially love to layer the reindeer head and then embellish it with a red Rainbow Drop to make it look like one of Santa's favorite helpers.  The Corrugated Stock goes nicely as an accent on this tag giving it some texture too.

I should mention that nearly all the tags for these bags are stamped with the 'Merry Christmas' sentiment pulled from the Robin Holiday Stamp Set.

Here is another bag that has a snowflake element from that same Holiday Elements Steel Rule Die Set, but just because it is Christmas doesn't mean you can't pull from other die sets as well.  Here I've just used simple stars that were sprayed with Gold Shimmer Color Splash and embellished with some red dots from the Magical Candy Drops.

Here is another more bold example of exactly what I was talking about by using non-Christmas themed products to decorate your bags.  Here I've used the Peach Blossom Stamp Set for the flower and the Skeleton Leaf Stamp Set for the gold embossed leaves stamped on Gold Brush Cardstock.

I hope these ideas have given you plenty of inspiration for how to creatively wrap up and give away those gift cards this holiday season!

Be sure to click over to shop.funstampersjourney.com to get all the supplies you need or contact your local Fun Stampers Journey Coach.

Happy Crafting and Merry Christmas!

Silhouette Wood Frame Advent Calendar Limited Edition 2012

i was so excited when the email came through my inbox from Silhouette asking me if i'd like to play with the Silhouette Limited Edition Advent Calendar for 2012. it took me 2 seconds flat to make that decision....i mean, come on. that's a no-brainer! you may remember the one i altered last year--it became quite the popular re-pin on Pinterest. :)

(edited to add: Silhouette has told me that if you enter the code: BLACK at checkout, you'll recieve a 40% discount on your own Wood Frame Advent Calendar. YAY Silhouette!  my readers thank you for that! )

funny enough, i reached for Cosmo Cricket's 2012 Christmas collection (Jolly Days), SRM Stickers, and my Fiskars punches yet again.  what can i say, those companies never disappoint and i really dig their style.

the Silhouette Limited Edition Wood Frame Advent Calendar is such a stylish countdown to Christmas. but, it doesn't only have to be for Christmas.  i can see this being used as a countdown to a trip to Disney, or a birthday or anniversary....or even just to display some of your favorite photos. can't you?

the solid wood frame comes already painted white with wires already attached. you also get a free download card loaded with 20 shapes to help you create your advent calendar. you have full creative control over what this calendar looks like! just use your Silhouette and your favorite paper to customize the calendar in your own style.

this is one of those frames that will be so very useable even after the holidays. i plan on packing the little envelopes away with my Christmas decorations, then repurposing the frame with everyday photos printed from instagram and having it hang in my home all year long.

 

anywho. i had such a fun time altering it. it's pretty well known that i have a love affair with SRM Stickers. if you didn't know, i used to design for them and they pretty much stocked me up for life with a very generous supply. but, even if i didn't have gobs of these things, i'd be adding them to my shopping basket any chance i could get, i love them that much!  they have stickers for every ocassion and they are clear so they look more like a rub-on. i'll take that over frustrating rub-ons anyday. thank.you.very.much. :)

of course, i also had to get some good use out of my Fiskars punches.  i *adore* the Christmas seasonal punches. i've used them on gobs of projects the last two weeks and i'll be sharing those over the next two weeks with you. my favorite is the snowflake punch on envelope 23. i used it on several envelopes and punched it from glittered cardstock, but the sparkle is hard to relay in photos.

the easiest way to complete one of these projects is to grab a single collection and pull a few sheets of coordinating cardstock and just START.  then treat each envelope individually.  if you look closely, there is nothing stellar about each envelope on it's own. it's the sum of them all together that give this project the wow factor. just repeat colors, repeat embellishments, a little sparkle dispersed randomly in the way of glittered cardstock and adhesive backed rhinestones, some mild distressing, and sticker sentiments.

all in all, this project came together, including time to cut the shapes, in just about 3 hours. and yes, that includes interruptions (always).  really, really, so simple, and makes quite a powerful statement. and what i love most about this year's version is that it only used 3 sheets of cardstock, but still, because of the substantial size of the frame (guessing 18" x 24") it still packs a powerful punch.  compared to last year's version that used 35+ sheets of cardstock. 

psssttt......if you don't already have a Silhouette Cameo, there is a GREAT cyber monday deal at Scrapbook.com.  enter the code: SCMN6 to get $70 off instantly! 

and here's clickable links to all the products i've used to create this calendar.

InLinkz.com

(full disclosure: while i was not paid to create this blog post, just simply provided with the wood frame calendar, this post does contain affiliate links.)

reminders to me.

• relax
• breathe
• perfection doesn't exist
• housework can wait
• don't let the list define you
• live without regrets
• sunday's are your day to rest
• one day at a time
• focus
• don't overcommit
• learn to say no
• laugh often

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winners of the last two giveaways are: pattyb and tricia!!! please email me at taniamwillis at (yahoo.com) with your mailing information!

the giveaways were WAY more fun than i ever thought they could be! i hope you'll all stick with me even though there won't be daily giveaways. i still have massive amounts of stuff to de-clutter in my studio..........so there will be more. soon! rumor has it that there are still a few more free passes to my class lingering out there in blogland. more details forthcoming on where & when to find them!

from my family to yours.....

with giveaways and gifts aside for a moment, i want to send my love to each and every one of your families. it's time to forget about the list, put the un-done tasks aside, and snuggle in for a few days full of family, doses of antibiotics, laughter, love and rememberance as we celebrate Christmas.

"And she brought forth her firstborn son; and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the Glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men." Luke 2: 7-14.

doug will stay home with the feverish little one, so i'll get to go visit with Grandma and the family as we celebrate together tonight. so all is good. thank you for all your sweet comments and concern. she'll be okay, we've been down this road of strep with her before. the first few days are rough, but it will get better.

wishing you Peace.
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winner of the prize yesterday: NanaBeth! please email me at taniamwillis at (yahoo.com)

winner of the class: AuBien!!!! email me too please.

tomorrow is Christmas!

i'm signing off today for a few days, but i still have TWO giveaways...the last giveaways of this year *winners will be announced sometime after Christmas....let's say, by Monday*: first one is a hodge-podge assortment of goodies, including; a swatchbook style mini album by 7gypsies, a large rub-on word "family", adhesive fabric tags by Making Memories, some felt ribbon, assorted chipboard accents, felt flowers, and a slew of ribbon.


second one: an 8x8 patterned paper pad (24 sheets) with coordinating diecuts, a CD minibook, some chipboard shapes, and a roll of ribbon.

spidergirl is down for the count.

(linda and sara......please email me so i can send your prizes out. thank you.)

i could see it in her eyes when i took this picture the other day. that's how i know they are falling ill.....it's in their eyes. they look bleak and hallow and dark underneath.

she woke up yesterday with a low grade fever, so i gave her some motrin and sent her to school. she runs low grade fevers a lot. so i wasn't too concerned. then, about 3:30 the call came to pick her up. she had a 103.9 fever. i should mention that there was a lovely note on the door last week saying a child in her class has a confirmed case of strep. *sigh* oh, and the stomach bug is going around something fierce.

so today i'm home from work and we'll visit our doctor only because it's the holiday. usually i'd play the wait and see game, but i don't want to be stuck in the ER on Christmas. if it isn't strep, it could be her ears. hard to tell now since her tube surgery.....since she'll have no pain with infections while they are in place. don'tcha just wish they came with a teleprompter screen spitting out info so you never have to guess? i do.

i'm seriously bummed that she's sick. we're going to have to figure out something creative for tomorrow night's festivities at Grandma's house (little grandma with the crumbles (wrinkles) on her face, as ashlyn so lovingly calls her). i can't miss it. she'll leave the day after Christmas to head to Florida........until after Easter. i'm tearing up just thinking about it. ashlyn took this picture of her.

moving right along. here's an idea for those of you still wrapping..........repurpose some of your scrapbooking supplies as gift wrap. a single sheet of 12x12 works perfect for a CD, or giftcard tin. i'll be doing this today, since i stopped yesterday and bought those 4 last gifts----giftcards. again.
anywho.

wishing i had a huge stash of pom-poms today so i could finally make one of these pom-pom garlands. oh, wait! i should probably spend some time working on that list.........especially the wrapping. Oy! am i the only one not done!? oh, wait......i should ask........am i the only one not yet started!?????

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winner of yesterday's prize is: WANDA! email me at taniamwillis at (yahoo.com) with your mailing address.

only 2 more days until Christmas!!!!!!

today's prize: pre-cut bazzill cardstock ready for cardmaking, rub-ons, A-Z & 0-9 transparent sheets, some envelope labels/seals, some Prima flowers & butterflies, a few pieces of raw chipboard shapes.

i can see clearly now.....

• like my new specs? they're pink. and i love 'em. i figured since most of the time when reading or doing computer work it was like looking through a thin layer of clouds that it was about time to get the eyes checked. they couldn't believe that i drove without corrective vision. hah. "that bad, eh?" i asked. i've had them for 3 weeks now. it's amazing how much more detail i have visually now. imagine that.
  
• still didn't get any wrapping done yesterday. it's still on the list. but i'm not stressing over it. yet.
  
• speaking of the list. i did manage to get a tutorial done for that class. YAY!
  
• speaking of that class. you still have time to enter to win a free pass. click here and comment on that post. you don't have to do all three things. just commenting gives you a chance. the other things give you extra chances.
  

• saturday night after attempting to wrap, i came home to the munchkins giddy over their cousin coming to play and sleep over. while they were chasing monsters in the dark with flashlights, i had a few minutes to gather all the cards and photos we've received and look a little more closely at them. that one up there..........it's my favorite! you can't tell in the picture, but the snowman is made from the shimmery bazzill cardstock. i LOVE it.
• thanks to sharyn and that class she's teaching, i'm seeing the season in a whole new light. saving and celebrating all the souviners of the season. so, i'll be keeping that card up there and recycling it to use as a cover for a mini album. if you're not taking that class, you're surely missing out. she tells me it isn't too late to sign up either.
  
• speaking of sharyn. her husband has some talent of his own. carving wood. i was thrilled i was quick enough to email for one of the ornaments he put up for sale. this lovely guy is going to be mine very soon. so quirky and cute. and handmade. you can see more of them here and here. aren't they fabulous?
  

• speaking of ornaments. my step-mom has a tradition of buying her kids an ornament every year for christmas. it's always one that represents something that happened during the year, or relating to an inside joke of some sort. they are now graduates from college and out on their own and she sent them off with their ornaments for their own trees this year.
• speaking of traditions. i totally adore that tradition of hers. so this year, i'm starting it for my kids. actually, our whole family. doug will buy one for me and me for him. i'll share pictures later in the week. can anyone guess what emma's ornament will be? hehehee.
• what else? ummmmm, working extra hours this week, thus the reason the blog is a bit delayed. between dropping the kids off and starting work i'll try to hit one store for a quick gift.
  
• speaking of gifts. still have 4 people to buy for. the ones who have everything and need nothing and give you no ideas at all. they'll get gift cards. again. for the 15th year in a row. oh well. at least they'll love what they get since they're picking it out themselves.
  
• still haven't made our annual gingerbread house. i'm thinking that will be a fun activity to do at home with the kids the day after christmas.
• still haven't put up that second Christmas tree. doug's considering having it up and ready to decorate before picking the kids up today.....as a surprise. ashlyn wants it in her room. it usually goes in the playroom.
• that's all i got for today. happy monday friends!
  

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winner of yesterday's prize pack is: Tonja Trump!!! email me at taniamwillis at (yahoo.com) with your mailing address Tonja.

and today's goodies: 2 packs of 24 sheets of double-sided decorative edged patterned papers, 1 CD minibook, 1 set of cling alphabet stamps, a couple sheer journaling spots and a roll of ribbon!