Christmas Card Buffet

I recently hosted my first ever card buffet. I created a dozen different Christmas cards with a huge variety of themes from reindeer to gingerbread men and even a VW bug!? The ladies had 2 hours to create and the more they made the more savings the earned per card. It was hit overall and everyone really had fun!

Here is a picture of the cards, minus one that was left out of the photo.~

This picture illustrates how the cards were set in crates or boxes with kits to make the card along with the materials needed to complete it. Most required a stamp set and inks, but others needed thin cuts, markers, craft heaters, embossing folders and more.

Here are the ladies having fun, but mostly getting to work....serious business you know!

One of the aspects that the ladies enjoyed the most is that all the ideas were already thought of for them. The could simply look at the master card and recreate it. I try to come up with interesting ideas and wanted to explore all sorts of stamp images as well as use a variety of papers. Sometimes the ideas came from strange items. Like the Merry VW bug card. On a recent shopping trip to Michaels I came across these adorable magnetic closing boxes for 50% off. The image of the little cars decked out for the holidays was my inspiration for this card. I think the post office should seriously make this a stamp design. I would buy it! None of these card kits were left in the box...well not many cards were left at all at the end of the night!

Happy crafting!

Cookies and Cards Mini Album

Today I am sharing the special surprise project I created for my Card & Cookie exchange! I have also been invited to be a guest designer at Heart 2 Heart Challenges Blog this week. Their challenge was to create a project using the Sparkle & Shine color combination. I took the challenge literally and used the papers, but you will see that I have incorporated a few other colors too!

Every year I hold card exchanges, but always do a Christmas themed swap at the end of the year. Each time I save all the cards and usually just store them in a ziplock bag. This year I decided to display them in a mini album made from the Artbooking cartridge. The keys to create this album include the pages and various little pockets. This was perfect to store each card and the recipe from the cookies that the card maker brought to share. The book is dated and I have little notes throughout indicating who made each card. I also adhered photo's I took at the event.

 

I added some Kraft papers to the Sparkle & Shine papers for this book. It blended well and allowed a nice stiff cover to the album. The cute gingerbread man is from the Candyland stamp set. The binding is simply 2 holes punched in the seam and tied together with some cranberry twine.

 



Here is a peek inside just a few of the pages. Photo's were taken before all the cards and pictures were added, but you get the idea.

Gingerbread Man Crafts

As I started creating for my recent craft fair I knew I wanted to gear it for the Holidays. Before I knew it I crafted an entire gingerbread theme! The adorable Gingerbread man is found on the new Candyland MyAcrylix stamp set. {D1557}


This first project is a magnetic photo frame. It is created using some clear acrylic cards (no longer available), papers and ribbon. They are closed with Velcro under the little gingerbread man. They can easily be opened to insert a picture and has a magnet strip on the back to attach to a refrigerator.

 

 

 

{I placed an older picture of my kiddo's in the frame for a sample at the fair.

Why do they grow so fast?!}

 



My next project is a gift card holder that can hang in your Christmas tree. The big kids love their gift cards these days, so why not package them in a fun way!

I always save my toilet paper rolls for all sorts of crafts. Simply take your empty, clean roll and smash it down in an embossing folder and run it through your embossing machine. Cut a strip of cardstock to make a belly band and decorate as you desire. Don't forget some twine to hang it!

And finally a merry banner! I love creating banners and this one was so much fun! The tags were made from a mini book in the Artbooking cartridge. I stamped them and added a title with a little mint. The best part is the smell! That's right, it's scented with a peppermint twist!

I sold a few photo frames, half of my gift card holders and I only have my sample banner left! This stamp set is really fun to play with. If you would like your own Candyland stamp set you can order directly through me or shop online here.

Candy Canes & Gingerbread Men

I have another set of Christmas cards for you today! These "sweet" cards will also be entered in the Ribbon Carousel color challenge this week. The colors in the challenge are Kraft, Brown (Chocolate) and Red. Once again I pulled out some older items that have not seen daylight in years. My "spool" item however is some newer adorable ribbon from the red collection in the Close To My Heart Autumn/Winter Idea Book.

inside~