A different box

Technically, I guess this is another exploding, or pop-out, box. But, I put a gift inside, so I'm calling it a box treat holder. How original...

We did Secret Santa gifts at church and my recipient loves Starbucks. I decided to do a coffee theme and include a $20 gift card to Starbucks. I also included an angel ornament with the Legend of the Christmas Angel.

I looked at more than one scrapbook shop but I could not find any coffee-related items except for one style of paper. I could not believe that there was no coffee embellishments so I ended up cutting things out of the paper. I took the designs and words and put them on with either glue or pop-dots.

I cut squares to put on the inside flaps of the outside layer.Then I did ribbon and words on the inside of the middle layer. Finally, I did words and designs on the inside of the inside layer. Santa with a string of lights and a sack of toys finished off the inside.

First "exploding" box

I finished my first exploding - or pop-out - box. It's not bad for a first try. I know I'll get better with practice, though. My disappointment is really not having a large selection of embellishments and paper to select from.

I have enough paper to make 3-4 more boxes but before I can add embellishments, I'll have to make a trip to the store. The ones I'm concentrating on first will be for my co-workers. I'd like to get them out of the way so I don't have to worry about them at the last minute. Before I can make my Secret Santa gift, I'll definitely have to take a trip to the store. I don't have anything that would even remotely resemble coffee items.

Here are some pictures:

Ultimate Crafter's Companion

I ordered this and received it this past week. I've been pouring over the book and watching the videos. I planned on getting a bunch of Christmas cards done (or at least started) yesterday but all I got completed was watching videos and trying to decide which projects I want to tackle.

It's so hard to watch the videos and want to create beautiful things - and know that I don't have the extra money to purchase the beautiful supplies. I don't have the shimmery card stock they used and I don't have a bunch of paint markers, and I don't have a bunch of embellishments that I can use to spice up the cards.

I am going to make a few of the exploding boxes with a stacked red and green card stock. They will be three layers - red, green, and then red - and the lid will be green. I think I'm going to use just small pieces of different embellishments that I already have and stamp with Christmas stamps in places I don't use a 3-D embellishment. The box will then hold some Christmas candy and these will be given to my co-workers. I think that I can spend about $5 on candy and I already have just about everything else I'll need.

The ladies at church are doing a gift exchange. The person whose name I drew loves Starbucks and Abuello's. I'm going to do a "coffee" box for her and the gift inside will be a Starbucks card. In my mind, these are all adorable and really cute. Since I've not made one before I better practice on some white cardstock just to make sure that it comes together.

For cards, I think I'll try to keep it relatively simple this year and just make them look nice. Spectacular will have to wait. I already have some blank cards and envelops so I'll probably decorate those and mail to my out-of-town family. The in-town family and friends will get something with a little more pizazz.

That's the current plan, which could be subject to change if I don't like how things are going.

Blog Candy

(copied from my other blog)
I'd never heard of this before, but I have been on one link, going to the next link, and on and on. I don't remember where I started, but here are some sites for Blog Candy:

http://scrampinmama.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-time-for-blog-candy.html
http://kristineskort.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-blogoversary-blog-candy.html
http://rosaswelt.blogspot.com/2008/11/pretty-pressings-anniversary-blog-candy.html
http://heathersheavinlystampations.blogspot.com/2008/11/some-blog-candy-for-you-to-celebrate.html

First post on new blog!

I decided that I needed a blog just for the crafty side of me. So, here it is!

This blog will be dedicated solely to the cards and scrapbook layouts that I'll be working on. Until I get some designs under my belt, I may not have many posts here. I hope that changes quite quickly.

Glad to have any comments you care to post. Or, if you're another crafter - scrapbooks, altered items, cards, etc. - feel free to link back here and send me your blog info so I can link to yours.

Have a great day and God Bless!