Digital Tuesday Challenge: Bling!

Ever forget WHAT day it is? Ummm, yeah I forgot today is TUESDAY! My project all loaded ready to blog and I totally forgot today was TUESDAY...whoops! Well, better late than never right?!

Our challenge this week at the Digital TUESDAY Challenge is BLING! And since we're getting close to Back to School time I thought I'd make this adorable backpack/luggage tag for school. The image is by My Graphico who is our sponsor this week.

I made my little tag using BADGE covers I got at Wal-Mart, I got 12 of them for like $2...sooo easy and I attached it with a key ring I bought in the kids craft area. Not much to explain here today...so recipe is below and thanks for looking!

Recipe:

• Stamp: My Graphico
• Paper: The Paper Studio
• Nestabilities: Labels 1
• Other: Badge Holder, Heart by Fiesta Felt, Stickles, Copics, Ribbon

Thrifty Christmas: Frosty's Hat Gift Bag

I was wandering through a very famous card store and spied these adorable, felt snowman hat gift bags...and knowing that $6 was a little steep for my pocket book, I though I'd make my own! I think it came out rather cute! I found the lunch sack at Wal*Mart (you know the 5/$1 in the card section) and then I used satin ribbon, Martha Stewart punches and some glass glitter (and stamped the sentiment)...truly quick and easy...the longest time I spent on it was putting the glue down for the glitter!

Thrifty Christmas: Quick Gift Tags

One tag, two ways...well actually three, but blogger's kicking back one of my images...ANYWAY, this season I picked up ALL snowflake wrapping paper, in different colors, that seems to be my theme this year (not intentional by any means), however, this did make my tags super quick this year! I thought I'd pull out my Nestabilities labels die (this is the 3rd size) and use it, I got 12 tags from a 12X12 sheet of cardstock. I love my snowflake stamps (PSX)...it's so versatile, it can be sort of masculine, to feminine by just changing the ink color. Anyway, hope this inspires!

Recipe:

• Stamp: PSX (snowflake), CTMH (To/From)
• Inks: White Studio G, SU Heavenly Blue, Pink
• Die: Nestabilities Label
• Other: Robins Nest Dew Drop

Thrifty Gifts: Tree Ornament Tutorial

Here's a quick tutorial for you today. This is a simple Christmas Tree ornament that can be quickly made out of 3 squares of paper. I loved how this turned out and how easy it was to make. I actually came across this idea last night at a birthday party, there were HUGE squares of confetti on the tables and I started playing around with them...and well, this is what I came up with...it's funny where creativity will strike you...anyway...onto the tutorial...
Supplies Needed:

• 3 Varying sized squares of paper (I just punched out 3 squares with my punches...my largest square is 1 3/8"
• Paper Piercer
• Needle and Thread
• Beads

Step One:

• Punch out 3 varying sized squares.
• Fold corner to corner so that your square resembles a triangle.
• Do this both directions.
  

Step Two:

• Fold your square into a triangle again so it looks something like the above.
  

Step Three:

• With the pointy end pointed down and the bended edges on your fingertips, squeeze so that your triangle inverts and looks like the above.
  

Step Four:

• Smoosh it flat, you want to make sure the flaps bend both ways...so that it looks like below...
  
  Step Five:
• With the paper piercer, pierce the middle of your star (so you can put your string through)

Step Six:

• Thread a bead on the end of the string and tie off.
• Place the largest "star" on top of the bead
• Add beads so that they are the height of the next star
• Add the next star
• Continue to do this until you are finished with the "stars"
• Add one last bead and run your string up and back down and tie off for a loop to hang with.

Thrifty Christmas: Gifts Under $5, Notecard Set

Been looking for a semi-last minute gift? Something a little personal? Me too! Actually I've had this notecard set in my head for quite awhile, but needed to get it done for an upcoming gift exchange with a music teacher. So instead of doing a "monogrammed" set, and knowing that she sends home lots of little notes, I decided to go with the music theme and create a quick, but cute, notecard set for her.

I used my Just Rite stamper to create the ring (A Small Note) around the music note, then using my nestabilities circle, cut it out and embossed it. I also used my Allegro embossing folder from Cuttlebug to use as a background for this set. It was quick and it was easy!

Then I needed a clever way to package 8 notecards and envelopes and remembered Lauren Meader came out with a cute little box with Timeless Templates (from paper trey ink, link here http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/12/11/template-time/) EXCEPT it's release date is the 15th...now KNOWING I don't have TIME to wait on the template, I made my own...I shoulda waited and just bought the template! This is the 4th or 5th version of trial and error and it came out...ok, not great, I'm not super pleased with the fit...it's a little loose, but it'll do.... so save yourself some aggrevation and go purchase her template if you like this box...trust me, it's worth every darn penny!

Recipe:

• Stamp: Just Rite (for a small note), Music Note (unknown)
• Embossing: Nesabilities (circle), Allegro by Cuttlebug
• Ink: Tim Holtz
• Paper: All from Joann's
• Other: Organza Ribbon, Button, Flower (from silk flower bush)

Thrifty Christmas: Gift Wrapping, Lunch Bag Doily Topper

Ever panic at the last minute because you don't have just the right wrapping for your gift? Or you have a last minute guest at the holiday party that doesn't have anything to open, but you have the gift, just not the time to wrap (or the supplies?). Lunch bags to the rescue! You can transform an ordinary lunch bag, quickly, into a unique gift wrap that looks like it was made just for the recipient!
Below I used a doily (found at my favorite haunt, Dollar Tree, 24 doilies for $1), folded it in half and placed on a lunch bag and I topped it with one of my favorite images and a ribbon to hold the whole thing together. Cute, Simple, Quick!

Recipe for Above:

• Stamp: Rachel Ann Miller
• Ink: Tim Holtz
• Paper: SU Heavenly Blue
• Punch: Martha Stewart Lace
• Other: Doily, Lunch Sack, Ribbon, Colored Pencils, Stickles

Here's another bag, this time a gift bag with a long, oval doily, I folded the doily in half and cut a slit to allow the handles to go over it (this is a really good trick to keep peepers out of the gift bags also!) This can also be done with cardstock cut to size...however the doily is easy and quick! I hung a snowflake (12/$1 at Dollar Tree) added a few beads to it and put a tulle ribbon on it...quick, pretty and ready to go!

Thrifty Christmas: Gifts Under $5, Winter Towel Set

Have you taken a trip through your local crafty nook lately? I just love going in there! Ours is called Treasured Dreams, they always come up with whimiscal ways to present decorations, gifts and what-nots...and I always walk away with something I couldn't live without. However, sometimes their what-nots are a touch overpriced (for me), when I KNOW I can make them for so much less! Kitchen towels included! I've seen similar kitchen towels to the ones I made below for about $12 A PIECE! OUCH! The ones below cost me $1.50 each total.
The towel itself was $1 (found at my Dollar Tree, but I also found some outstanding towels at Wal-Mart for the same price) and the snowman fabric was $7/yard and I used a 3 1/2" X 14" strip for each towel, and the lace I had on hand.
These were easy to make and the longest part of the whole project was ironing my seams down and pinning the lace under the fabric. The sewing was the easiest part of all, STRAIGHT LINES! Can't go too wrong with that!
I plan on giving several friends and family members these little towel sets, I know most of their kitchen colors (and can match towel colors accordingly)and Prim (primitive decor) is in, in my area, so I know they'll be appreciated!

Above I wanted to show you what the towel looked like BEFORE it's transformation!

Thrifty Christmas: Gifts Under $5, Fuzzy Socks, Acetate Box

My dh got me a pair of these warm and fuzzy socks for my b-day, and I loved them so much I thought they would make a great Christmas gift! But how to wrap something as boring (but cute -n- fuzzy) as socks? How 'bout an acetate box? While they may SEE the gift, they'll still have to guess just a little...could it be socks, a scarf, mittens? Since this has a "handle" you can also hang it on the tree. Here's the tutorial for this cute acetate box : http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374478&highlight=acetate+box+tutorial

I changed the directions slightly to fit my socks and made it 8" tall...

Recipe:

• Paper: Transparency (for acetate), cardstock from stash
• Stamp: Magnolia
• Punch: Marthat Stewart Lace
• Die: Nestabilities
• Other: Colored Pencils, Double Stick Tape, Hole Punch, Ribbon

Thrifty Christmas: Gifts Under $5, Post It Note Holder

Whether you have a co-worker or just like using post it notes at home (I know they come in handy for me!), a quick and inexpensive gift is a post it note holder. I used acrylic frames I found at Dollar Tree, Post It Notes that I purchased in bulk and the rest of my stash to make these two little gems.
Recipe:

• Punch: Martha Stewart Lace
• Paper Piecing: This little girl I made almost 7 years ago, so I'm sorry I don't have the original, however I believe she is inspired by Mary Engelbreit.
• Paper and Ribbon from my stash.
  

Recipe:

• Paper: K & Co
• Die: Cricut Opposites Attract
• Pin: Stash that I made
• Ribbon: Again, stash...

Thrifty Christmas: Seasoned Greetings, Gifts Under $10

Here's another seasoning set ready for the Bar-B-Quetioner in your family. This time I placed 3 different seasonings in this box set and since they were a bit larger than your standard seasonings set, I left my box open and attached a couple of snowflakes and a tag that says "Seasoned" Greetings (get it? I knew you would! wink!)

Recipe:

• Paper; Kraft from my stash, Heavenly Blue by SU
• Stamp: PSX (snowflake), Just Rite (Seasoned Greetings)
• Ink: Tim Holtz Vintage Photo
• Punch: Martha Stewart Snowflake, Cricut Joys of the Seasons (snowflake) and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More (tag)
• Other: Ribbon, Button, Jute
  

Thrifty Christmas; Gift Wrap, Gift Card Holder

Here's a gift card holder that you can hang on your tree! It's an under 5 minute project, super easy and gives the recipient a little something to unwrap (that's the one thing I hate about gift cards...when you give the envelope, the recipient pretty much knows what it is...no surprise...at least this'll be a little less obvious!) So onto the tutorial...
Supplies Needed:

• Paper Trimmer
• Patterned Paper 4 3/4" X 6 1/2"
• Coordinating Paper 1" X 6 1/2"
• Double Stick Tape
• Hole Punch
• Ribbon
• Edge Punch (here I used Fiskars Treading Water punch)
• Decorative Accents (Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch & Cricut Joys of the Season Snowflake)
• Glitter (for accents)

With the edge punch, punch the 6 1/2" edge of the coordinating paper and attach with double stick tape to the top of the patterned paper (as shown).

Flip it over and put double stick tape alone one 4 3/4" edge and 1/2 of the 6 1/2" edge.

Overlapping slightly, roll the paper (like a toilet paper tube) so that the 4 3/4" meet. Press together (as shown below)...

With the seam in the middle back, squish the end together so it's slightly flat (as shown below)

Punch one hole on each side of the top (as shown) and thread ribbon through and tie knots in the ends.

Add decoration and gift card.

I added a little paper shred to cover the card

Thrifty Christmas: Personalized Crayons, Gifts under $5

Ok, I must go off to work...and with that I have no internet access (bah hum bug!)...and won't return until Monday...so my Thrifty Christmas daily postings will be on hold until then...I know, I know, I can pre-post and I have in the past, but this time I've been busy with some company, busy packing and well...just busy! BUT, before I go, I've been doing a little "blurfing" (blog surfing) and Lauren Meader came up with the CUTEST idea for personalizing crayons and a carrier (one of her timeless templates...the stocking below was using one of her timeless templates). So if you are looking for a cute idea for a child, but don't want to spend a lot of $$$$ check out her link here ( http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/11/25/a-little-gift-for-cassie/ )
And hey, have a great Thanksgiving...I'm gonna be working, BUT I'll still have some turkey and all the fixings...yummmm!!!!!! and I'll be back on Monday...and for those that are wondering WHAT I'll be working on... we'll be at a horse show, the show starts on Friday, but we go a few days early to prep the horses and well, just move in...that's a production in and of itself!

Thrifty Christmas; FREE Template Stocking Stuffer, Gift Wrap

Don't ya just love the word FREE? Me Too! Below I made this adorable stocking box with a free template from Paper Trey Ink found here ( http://www.papertreyink.com/timeless_templates_download_here.html )
This was truly an easy peasy project, took me under 15 minutes to make from start to finish. Laruen Meader did an excellent job designing this!

I decided to try unconventional Christmas colors and used some purple paper I've been saving for-evah! I also did another glittered snowflake, only in purple (of course). Wouldn't these look cute as party favors?

Supplies:

• FREE Template from Paper Trey Ink ( http://www.papertreyink.com/timeless_templates_download_here.html )
• Cardstock: Lavendar & White
• Die Cut: Cricut; Joys of the Season Large Snowflake
• Punch: Martha Stewart Snowflake
• Glitter: Martha Stewart
• Bauble: Robbins Nest
• Sentiment: Studio G
• Ribbon: Grograin

Here's a close up of my glittered snowflake.

Thrifty Christmas: Gift Wrapping

Look what I did with the little snowman pin I made yesterday...I turned him into a package decoration! I cut my shapes out on my cricut (Joys of the Season snowflakes & George heart), inked the edges and glittered them up in various glitters (the chunky glitter is mica glitter I bought off of ebay last year for another project). I stamped a little tag (using my $1 Studio G stamps), and attached a button from my stash and some cheap offray ribbon. I think they turned out so pretty and primitive!

Recipe for above snowman package decoration:

• Snowman pin made yesterday (see yesterday's post for directions)
• Red Snowflake from Martha Stewart Punch
• White Heart from Cricut using George cart
• Sentiment: Studio G
• Ink: Tim Holtz Vintage Photo
• Glitter: Making Memories (fine) and Mica (source unknown)
  

Recipe for above Snowflake Decoration:

• Snowflakes: Cut from Cricut, Joys of the Season Cart
• Glitter: Brown Martha Stewart, White Mica Glitter
• Button: From stash
• Sentiment: Studio G
• Ribbon: Offray

Thrifty Christmas; Gifts Under $5, Snowman Pin

This adorable little snowman pin was made using materials I already had on hand. So easy to make, so quick to do. These would be super simple to do in mass quantity! You could also change the snowman's personality with your ribbon scarf...and also to match the recipients personality!

Supplies Needed:

• Sticky Pin Back
• 2 White, 2 hole buttons in different sizes
• 4 seed beeds or rhinestones (I used rhinestones for my example...what I had on hand)
• Ribbon
• All purpose Glue
• Scissors
• Toothpick
  Step One: Remove paper from sticky pin backing

Step Two: Apply buttons with the smaller button's holes going horizontally, and the large button's holes going vertically

Step Three: Squeeze glue onto a scrap piece of paper, and using your toothpick place a dab of glue over each button hole and place your rhinestones/seed beads.

Step Four: Fold your ribbon in half.

Step Five: Place ribbon behind pin back, around the neck area as shown above. Now pull the ends through the loop.

Step Six: Trim the end of the ribbon scarf with your scissors. Place a little glue on the side of the snowman body and glue the scarf ends down. Let dry!

Thrifty Christmas Ideas Galore

Today I don't really have anything to show you, however I have found a really great idea site here http://www.theideadoor.com/Ideasforsmallgifts.html
Have a look around, it's a pretty extensive site with lots and lots of great thrifty gift ideas!

Thrifty Christmas; Kids Crafts, Gifts Under $5, Paper Clip Bookmarks

Here's a SUPER QUICK craft that even the kids can do...paper clip book marks. Take a Jumbo Paper clip (found mine at Wal-Mart), and put a matching sticker on the front and back and tie off a little ribbon. So quick, so easy, so cute!
Supplies:

• Jumbo Paperclips
• Stickers: Flower by Martha Stewart, Heart by Miss Elizabeths
• Ribbon: Various
  

Thrifty Christmas; Gifts Under $5, The Birthday Book

Here's a simple, but thoughtful gift, the birthday book, it holds everyones birthdays in it...and the beauty...it's only 3" X 3", so it fits perfectly in a purse!

I purchased inexpensive spiral bound albums (found at Wal-Mart last year) and using my scrap paper, I made several of these up! I used my word processing program to make the dates and lines for each page. These were super simple to make and well received!