Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Last Crafter's Companion Post

Happy New Year's Eve!  


I'm sad to say that this is my last project for the Crafter's Companion design team.  I will not be on the Design Team this next term and I'm going to miss it!!  I've loved every minute of the last several years.  It was fun being a part of their first U.S. design team and helping to get Crafter's Companion established here in the United States. It has been a really fun ride.  Please go over and welcome the new design team members that I'm sure will continue to inspire you at Crafter's Companion.

I have a lovely white on white holiday card to share.  I started with a white pre-scored 8.5 x 5.5" Ultra Smooth Premiun White Card Stock base card.  Next using the Embossalicious 6" x 6" embossing folder - Christmas Patchwork, I embossed a piece of Luxury Centura Pearl paper.  Next I trimmed it down to the size I wanted.  I grabbed some white wired ribbon my my stash.  I adhered it around the card and just taped it to the front in the middle.  It is hidden by the embossed topper that I added next with some pop dots to raise it up off the card and give added dimension.


I LOVE the Tsukineko Delicata Golden Glitz ink!  I pulled out a sentiment stamp from the Christmas Sentimentals - Christmas Magic stamp set and stamped out "Merry and Bright" onto a scrap piece of Ultra Smooth Premium White Card Stock with this luscious ink.  I trimmed it down into a banner shape and adhered it on top of the embossed topper.  I finished with a bit of ribbon and a white flower from my stash.

I love the simple elegance!  I hope you do too.


Well, thanks for stopping by today.  Have a fun and safe New Years Eve and I will see your next year!!  (tomorrow...hehehe)

Until next time...Happy Scrapping!!!

Stacy

Friday, December 27, 2013

Happy Friday!

How about some tags today?  I made a couple that I want to share.  I made this first tag using a sentiment from the Christmas Sentimentals - Jingle Bells stamp set.  I stamped out "Joy" with Tsukineko Memento ink in London Fog onto a piece of Ultra Smooth Premium White Card Stock.  I punched it out with a circle punch and inked the edges with some blue ink.  I colored a clear bling with my Spectrum Noir Marker in BT7.


I've been playing around with my inks and sprays.  I started with a large pre-made tag from the Art Value Pack at Crafter's Companion.  There is great value with this pack of tags.  It is less than $8 for 100 tags!!

I pulled out some Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Tinsel and Tropical Teal.  I sprayed a few spritz of each one onto my craft mat and then I just drug the tag base through it until I got the look I wanted.  Then I dried it with my heat tool.  You could just wait for it to dry but I was too impatient! ha  SO pretty!!

I was in the mood for circles soooooo I took my Tsukineko VersaMarker watermark pen and drew some random circles on the tag.  I sprinkled on some opaque white embossing powder and heat set them.    Then I added the stamped sentiment with a pop dot for dimension.  Then I grabbed some Liquid Pearls in Silver Pearl and added two lines of dots.  And finished with some clear bling and some ribbon in Grey and White.


On my second tag I trimmed out a tag shape and die cut it using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Noel Die   I backed it with some red patterned paper that was a scrap on my desk.  I layered these onto a tag base.  I layered some patterned paper that I received from my friend, Fia onto the same red patterned paper. Then I fussy cut the ornament out of the same paper and added it to the tag with a pop dot.  I finished with some red ribbon from my stash and I custom colored the bling with my Spectrum Noir Pen in JG6.

Thanks for stopping and looking today!  Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from 
the 
Watson Family!!


Monday, December 23, 2013

Joy!

It is getting very close.  Are you ready yet??  Only two more days till Christmas!!  EEK! ha  In honor of Christmas I am sharing a Christmas layout that I made.  I left it ready for some of the holiday photos I plan to be taking.


I made using a sketch from Brenda Ragsdale for the December DT challenge at Sketches4all.  The challenge doesn't end until December 31st so you still have time to enter!

I have a hard time showing this layout to you without photos.  For some reason it just feels so unfinished without photos but I'm doing it anyway.  I layered lots of fun papers from my stash onto the Kraft base.  They are all from the Fancy Pants - Merry Little Christmas collection.


I used the awesome watercolor stamping technique that I showed you HERE using the awesome Christmas Sentimentals - Jingle Bells stamp set.  I went with a simple title of Joy using letter stickers from the same collection. I added some dots to the stickers using Liquid Pearl in Bisque.  I doodled around the page and around the Kraft paper mats that are awaiting their photos.

I will try to remember to share this again with photos after Christmas.  And speaking again of Christmas...I hope you all have a MERRY ONE!  (or if you don't celebrate Christmas - a HAPPY MONDAY!!)

Until next time....happy scrapping!

Stacy

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Joy and Cheer

Hi everyone,

How's it going?  I'm crazy like usual! ha  I wanted to share a card I made for Crafter's Companion using one of the awesome sentiments from the new Christmas Sentimentals - Mistletoe Kisses stamp set.


This card went together really fast.  I started with a prefolded 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Ultra Smooth Premium White Card Stock.  I layered some red card stock with a bit of Graphic 45 paper on to the front of the base card.  Then I stamped out the sentiment using Memento Ink  in Lady Bug.  I cut this out and then matted it with some more red card stock.  Then I found the bells as a freebie from Crafter's Companion that I got from a magazine.  They were actually part of a decoupage set but I wanted to just use the bells so I adhered them to a piece of card stock to give more stability and then fussy cut them out.

I found two white flowers in my stash and cut one in half and then added them to the front of the card using double sided adhesive squares and a bit of Collall glue.  I tucked the bells under one of the flowers.

I LOVE how it turned out!  What do you think?  Would you like to get this card? ha

Thanks for stopping by today.  Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Happy Mail, Photos and a Video!

Happy Mail!!!  Yippee!!

I got my package from my very generous Secret Santa (Stephanie Severin at Ingenious Inking).

Look at all the goodies:


And look at that gorgeous card she made!!  LOVE it all!!  Thanks Santa!! (Stepanie!) lol


Next, I received my Christmas card from my friend, Carri at DoubleClick AKA ABusyBee and not only did I get this super cute card she made but she added a special bag of her Skittles!!  I adore her Skittles so this is such a fun surprise!


I also wanted to share a photo of my boys dressed up for their Winter Band Concert.  Don't they look handsome?!  They did a fantastic job and it was a great concert.

Here she is before the concert in her pretty dress.

Here she is waving when she should be singing. lol



My Georgia had her Kindergarten Christmas concert too and it was awesome and hilarious.  Kindergartners are really funny especially my daughter who has no attention span at all.  Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting!  Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy

Monday, December 16, 2013

Holiday Memories

I'm running around like a crazy person trying to get everything ready to go for Christmas.  How about you?  Ready for Christmas yet?  Want a good laugh?  Look who decided they needed a haircut while I was out of town last weekend?  My 6 year old daughter!  She is pretty proud of her efforts! ha  I guess this year's holiday photos will be extra special! LOL


Have you joined in on this challenge at Crafter's Companion this month?  The challenge is to use a Crafter's Companion product and the theme is "Ribbons".  So you just have to add ribbons on there somewhere!  You could win a gift certificate to the Crafter's Companion store so get busy scrapping!!  Wait don't leave yet!  Finish reading my blog first.  ha


Here is a bit of inspiration to get to started.

I made this card using the Embossalicious 6" x 6" embossing folder - Christmas Elegance.  This would be a perfect card to make if you needed to make several cards at once. This embossing folder immediately turns a piece of card stock into something elegant even Kraft paper! Just add a bit of ribbon and a sentiment and you are quickly done.

I did something fun with my sentiment.  First I grabbed the new Christmas Sentimentals - Jingle Bells stamp set.  I LOVE these stamp sets!  Everyone needs to add them to their stamp collections!!

I added my stamp to my acrylic block and then I grabbed some of my Ranger Distress Markers.  I colored directly onto the stamp and then I lightly spritzed a bit of water on the stamp.


Here I have the stamp colored with these markers (Evergreen Bough, Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers) ready to spritz with water and stamp.


Here I am spritzing water on a snowflake stamp from Sheena's A Little Bit Scenic  - Ornate Snowflakes stamp set using the same technique. (For the snowflake I used Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn)


Here is how it turned out.

Then I stamped the image out onto the back (non shiny side) of a piece of Luxury Centura Pearl paper.  This paper is perfect for multi media projects because it holds up to water pretty well! I think the stamped image turned out so cool!!  I loved it so much I made a Christmas layout using the same technique that I will share soon.  (I still need to get a photograph)

I finished the card with a few bits of crystal bling to add a little of sparkle.  I hope you love it as much as I do.

Glad you could stop by today.  Until next time...happy scrapping!!

Stacy

Friday, December 13, 2013

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

The winner of my personal giveaway for the Sketches4all Anniversary Party is.........

Great layout and it is done before the holiday is even here, you go girl! I am a follower! This holiday I will be hosting Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas day will be at my sil's. This Christmas will be special because it is my 10mth old daughter's first Christmas so it will be fun to see her reaction and how my 6 year old reacts with her on Christmas morning!

CONGRATULATIONS  KellyG!!!!!   Please email your full name and EMAIL address to me at scrapwithstacy(at)gmail(dot)com.  You have until 20th to email me this information after that you will forfeit the prize.

Be sure to go over to Sketches4all and look in the Winner's Circle and see if you have won any prizes for the Anniversary Party OR the Jingle Bells Blog Hop!  They will be posted throughout the day today.  Thanks for helping us to celebrate!!  Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Crafter's Companion and CardMaker Magazine Joint Blog Hop

Welcome to the Crafter's Companion 
and 
CardMaker Magazine Joint Blog Hop


So glad to have you here hopping along on our fun blog hop!  There is a ton of inspiration along the way so be sure and hop around to see everyone.


I made this sweet Humphrey holiday card to share with you.  I used one of the cutest stamp sets EVER, the Humphrey's Corner Collection - A Present for You.  I stamped little Humphrey out onto a piece of Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock with my Tsukineko Memento ink in Tuxedo Black and colored him with my Spectrum Noir markers in  CR1, CR7, CR8, IB1, IB3, IG1, IG3, IG5, CG1, CG3, CG4, and BT4.  It is just a joy to color with these awesome markers!  


You can win TWO packs of the 6-marker sets of Spectrum Noir markers (Reds and Browns), The Makey Bakey - Christmas Seasons stamp set, The Embossalicious - Mistletoe Moments embossing folder AND a 1 year digital subscription to CardMaker Magazine!  All you need to do is go to the Crafter's Companion Facebook page and enter!

Here is a list of participants in case you get lost along the way:

Thanks for helping to celebrate the holiday season with Crafter's Companion and CardMaker Magazine!  Have fun hopping!!

Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy

Entering in Challenges at:
Three Girl Jam - Challenge #30
Theme: 'Tis the Season w/Ribbon
Songbird Challenges - Merry Christmas Everybody

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Three Layer Stamping

Hello everyone! I bet you're ready for a little crafty fun and I'm so happy to share a card I made with you. I'm always on the lookout for interesting new ways to put together cards and I hope you are, too. The following is a tutorial showing how I made this card using 3 layer stamping.
ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Supplies
Cardstock - two colors - One color cut to 2" x 3 1/4", 3" x 4 1/4" and 4" x 5 1/4" and the other color cut to 2 1/4" x 3 1/2", 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" and 8 1/2" x 5 1/4".
Embossing ink
Ink
Embossing powder
Twine
Decorative embellishment or a button
Adhesive
Double sided adhesive squares
Sentiment stamp
Stamp for repeating image
Heat gun

I really think 3 layer stamping makes for such an elegant card and after reading through this step-by-step tutorial, you'll be able to easily whip one up for yourself in no time at all. It's a fun technique to learn and you'll have everyone thinking you're a stamping rock star. Let's get started.
1ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Step One: Cut your cardstock to the correct measurements.
2ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Step Two: Working with the Ultra Smooth Premiun White cardstock, put a tiny piece of low-tack adhesive in the center of the back of the small paper piece and then center and layer it on top of the medium size piece. Next adhere the medium size paper piece to the largest piece. You want the adhesive to hold the pieces together while you're stamping but to come apart easily when you're done.
3ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Step Three: Stamp out your sentiment onto the smallest piece of white cardstock. I used a sentiment from the Stamp It Australia - Twinkle - Believe stamp set.  Next, starting close to the center, stamp with the stamp you want to use for the repeating pattern using embossing ink. For my repeating stamp, I used the Stamp It Australia - Twinkle - Falling Snowflake stamp set.   I started in the center and worked my way out making sure to have a few stamped images going half way off the edges of the card. Now carefully take the layers apart. You'll then sprinkle embossing powder on each layer, tap off the excess and then heat set the images using your heat gun.
4ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Step Four: Grab the other three cut pieces of cardstock and adhere the smallest white card onto the smallest green card. Do the same with the medium size white card and adhere it to the medium size green card. Then center and adhere the stacks together.
5ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Step Five: Now it's time to add some embellishments, if you desire. I wrapped some gold twine around the papers I had glued together and tied a bow. Then I found a fun gold holiday horn embellishment and glued it next to the bow. I added a few bits of double-sided adhesive tape under a couple of edges of the horn to level it.
6ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Step Six: Fold the 8 1/2" x 5 1/4" piece of cardstock in half to make your card base. Center and adhere the largest white layer to the card base. Next, put double-sided adhesive on the back of the medium green cardstock stack; center and adhere it to the card base.
7ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Step Seven: I always like to add decoration to the inside of my cards. I feel it gives them a more polished look. For the inside, I cut a piece of white cardstock to 4' x 5 1/4". Next, I centered and adhered it to the inside of the card. Using the same repeating stamp from the front of the card, I stamped a couple of snowflakes onto the white cardstock. Just a little something to tie the inside of the card to the outside of the card.

I hope after reading through this tutorial that you've been inspired to make a three layered stamped card. Before you leave here today, I wanted to suggest that you please check out all the awesome classes that are being offered  at The Art Studio @ SNR. I know you'll find at least one class you want to take.
ThreelayerstampSW.jpg

Merry Christmas by Stacy Harper Watson Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill and Spectrum Noir; Ink: Tsukineko, Embossing powder: Martha Stewart; Stamps: Crafter's Companion; Adhesive: Scotch, Darice and Beacon; Other: Twine and Horn embellishment

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Jingle Bells Blog Hop


Welcome to the Sketches4all
Jingle Bells Blog Hop!!


So glad you could join us on the first day of our blog hop!  You will have 9 days to hop around and to complete any and all of the challenges that will be offered by each design team member.  We hope to inspire you this holiday season!  The Hop starts today, December 3rd and ends on December 9th at midnight (PST).  Winners will be announced on December 13th in the Winner's Circle at Sketches4all.  


The Grand Prize winner will receive the glorious November Kit from Frosted Designs!!  Look at all of the gorgeousness!


There will be a second place winner of a $20 gift certificate to the Cutting Cafe!

AND each Design Team member will offer a challenge at Sketches4all some with an individual prize!

So how do you participate??

1.  Hop around to all of the blog's of the design team members.  Follow them and leave a comment.  

Right away that will get your name in the hat to win the second place prize!!  

2.  Join the Design Team's Jingle Bells Blog Hop challenges at Sketches4all.  

These challenges will be posted in the Forum under Special Events.  (HERE)  This will get your name thrown in the hat to win the individual prizes.

3.  And to win the Grand Prize you will need to complete the hop AND find our mystery sentence.  

Each Design team member will have a word hidden on their blog. (mine is MAY)  When you collect all eight words you will have the mystery sentence.  After you find it, you will then just personal message it to FIA at Sketches4all.  
That's it!  Just complete the blog hop and find the mystery sentence and your name will be in the hat to win that awesome kit from Frosted Designs!!!

Here is the order of the hop so you don't get lost along the way:

Stacy - http://scrapwithstacy.blogspot.com (you are here)
Giorgia - Guest Designer for December - http://joyblonde.blogspot.it/

***Update***  Rachelle is having problems getting her post up on her blog so if you hop over there and can't get on, just finish up the hop in the Forum at Sketches4all.  We will have her "secret word" on a discussion there.

You will still need to hop over later to leave a comment to qualify to win the Grand Prize and the 2nd place prize.

Here is a layout I have made to help inspire you to participate!  I'm waiting to add a photo from this Christmas.


Please check out my challenge at Sketches4all HERE in the forum.  I hope to inspire you to participate and have your name thrown in the hat to win an individual prize from ME!

And just to be crazy, I am going to give away a prize here on my blog too!!  To qualify to win you just need to:

1.  Follow my blog.
2.  Leave a comment telling me how you are spending your holidays this December.  
3.  Link back to this post from your blog or Facebook.

If you do that then your name will be thrown in the hat to win a $20 gift certificate to A Cherry on Top!!

As you can see there are lots of ways to win on the Jingle Bells Blog Hop!!  WOOT WOOT!

Now it is time to hop on over to see Cheryl.  

Thanks for joining in today!!  Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy 

Saturday, November 30, 2013

ScrapFriends Giveaway

ScrapFriends is having a giveaway on their site!!  Here is what they are giving away!!  Go check it out!


Join us for a chance to win this pack! 


Includes:
  • Amy Tangerine - Sketchbook - Daybook Stitched Chapter;
  • Crate Paper - Peppermint - Buttons;
  • Hello Dreams - Badge Buttons;
  • Basic Grey - Serenade - Mixed Brads;
  • Basic Grey - Lucille - Mixed Brads;
  • Basic Grey - Serenade - Flags and Banners;
  • Basic Grey - Lucille - Embroidered Tags;
  • Heidi Swapp - Sugar Chic - Stix;
  • Cosmo Cricket - Wood Charms - Snowflakes;
  • Studio Calico - Chevron Mask;
  • Teresa Collins - Memorabilia - Sequins;
  • Teresa Collins - Santa's List - Sequins.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving
 from 
the Watson Family!!



Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Joy for the Holidays

Hey Peeps!

How's it going?  Are all you guys here in the US ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow?  I'm getting there...ha  Today I'm prepping food and doing some baking.  But I thought I would sneak away for a bit and share a card I made.


I made this card using my Embossalicious Let It Snow 6" x 6" embossing folder and some random cardstock from my stash.  It was a just a left over bit that I had still sitting out.  In fact all of the paper I used in this project were just scraps that I hadn't put away yet.  So this worked perfectly and I didn't have to put them away any more since I used them! ha

I went for pretty clean and simple.  I just cut the paper scraps into flag shapes and layered them on my embossed base card.  Then grabbed my Stamp It Australia Twinkle - Joy and Spirit stamp set and I using Memento Tuxedo Black ink stamped out my sentiment onto a scrap piece of Ultra Smooth Premium white cardstock.  Then I die cut it out.  I also die cut a circle from card stock to mat the sentiment on.

I finished up the card by custom coloring my clear bling with my Spectrum Noir CR5.

Oh by the way, have you seen that Crafter's Companion has a Spectrum Noir Alcohol Marker Trial pack for less than $4!!??  It comes with two markers and all the goodies and instructions you will need to complete a finished tag project.  So if you have been thinking of getting some of the Spectrum Noir markers and were just not sure, here is your chance to kind of "try them before you buy them".

Well there you have it, a quick and easy Christmas card that would be perfect for the November Christmas/Winter Challenge at Crafter's Companion.   And if you haven't already joined in on the this challenge at Crafter's Companion you still have a couple of days to participate.  So go get busy!! (smile)  Don't you want to win a nice gift certificate so you can go shopping?!

Thanks for stopping and looking today.  Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy H-W

Friday, November 22, 2013

Thank You So Much

Hi guys!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I am always needing thank you cards and I realized that my supply was running low so I decided to make a little thank you card today to share.


I love working from scraps off my desk.  I'm weird...I know. haha  I recently made a layout using the reverse side of this polka dot paper and this scrap was sitting on my desk along with the chocolate brown card stock that I used for the base of my card.  I've been wanting to use this fun wooden owl from Kaisercraft that I have been hoarding in my stash and I thought it would be perfect as the focal point of my card.

I just received these fantastic Everyday Sentimentals Stamps that I was just itching to use so I pulled the "Thank You So Much" stamp and stamped it onto Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock.  I colored in part of the text with my Spectrum Noir marker - TN2.  I trimmed the stamped sentiment into a flag shape.  I used a wooden toothpick from my kitchen to make a flag pole and give my little owl something to hold on to!

I had this great orange wired ribbon in my stash and I pulled out my Ultimate Tool and made a quick bow.  It was the perfect finishing touch.  

I hope you like it.

Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy

Friday, November 15, 2013

A Launch and a Sneak!

Hi guys!

I have a fun sneak peaks at two new stamp launches!!  Well one is launching today and the other is a sneak peak of another launch coming up soon. The first one is a new launch from Sheena Douglass.  Who doesn't love Sheena's gorgeous stamps!?  I know I do!!!!  These stamps launch today!


This is a new A Little Bit Scenic set - Sheena Douglass Scenic A5 Stamp - Sea Scape's I stamped out a beach scene and colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers in - TN1, TN2, TN3, IB1, IB2, DG3 and DG4.  I also stamped a bird and fussy cut it out and used double sided adhesive to adhere it to the sky area on my card.

I stamped out the sentiment from the other sneak peak stamp launch.  This launch is for Everyday Sentimentals!  They are fantastic!  There are tons of great sentiments and sayings.  Can you say - LOVE?  I'm always looking for new sentiments to use and I know I will be using these over and over.  These launch on November 22nd so keep an eye out for them.

First, I stamped out the sentiment onto Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock.  Next out came my Spectrum Noir markers in TN1 and TN2.  Then I die cut the colored sentiment and added it to my card with  double sided adhesive squares.

Now you need to rush on over to Crafter's Companion and check out Sheena's new stamp set!  Thanks for visiting today.

Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Crafter's Companion and Xyron - 30 Days of Gifts

Hello Everyone!!

Welcome to the blog today.  I have a something special to share with you today.  Crafter's Companion and Xyron have teamed up for Xyron's 30 Days of Gifts.  I was pretty excited when heard this good news and super stoked when I received some Xyron goodies in the mail to use.


I decided I would make an ornament, an exploding box to put it in and a card to go along with it.  Want to learn how I did it?


Let's start with the ornament.  I have had this idea in my head for a little while and I'm happy that I finally decided to turn it into a real ornament.   I started with a 3 1/8" clear glass store bought ornament.


I took the metal hanging bit off and set it to the side.  Next I got my Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle in Multicolour and my ornament and went outside.  I went outside because you need a well ventilated area to spray your spray and sparkle.  I sprayed the ornament and brought it in to dry.  It dried very quickly.


Next I pulled out a sheet of Transparency Film (or you could use vellum).  My plan was to stamp out a holiday stamp onto the transparency and color it.  I used Stazon - Jet Black ink to stamp out the adorable mouse from my Makey Bakey Christmas stamp set - Trimming the Tree.


After the ink dried I turned it over and colored the image using my Spectrum Noir markers in DG2, DG3, DG4, IG1, IG2, IG8, TN2, TN3, TN4, TN8, GB6, GB10, CR5, CR8 and PP5.  (The colors are much lighter on the transparency so you will probably want to use brighter colors or test your colors out first)


The next step is to cut out the image into a circle.  I used my Martha Stewart circle cutter and cut a 3" circle.


Then you just roll up the circle and insert it into the top hole of the ornament.

Sadly, it doesn't photograph very well. But it is super cute in real life!

I added some Stampendous Shaved Ice to the inside of the ornament to emulate snow.  You could easily use glitter here if you want.  To finish up my ornament I pulled out my Ultimate tool and some wired red ribbon and made a sweet bow to adhere to the top. Top Tip:  If you use transparency film that is printer safe, you could easily print out a family photo to use inside of the ornament instead of using a stamped and colored image

You can't have an ornament for a gift and not have a gift box to put it in can you?!  So I grabbed my Ultimate Tool and got busy making an Exploding Box for my ornament.


I started with a piece of card stock cut to 11 1/2" square.  Using my Boxer scoreboard, I scored all 4 sides at 4".

Next I trimmed out each corner following along the score lines.  It looks like a cross now.  This will be the main body of your box.  Now just set this box piece aside.


To make the lid, I cut a piece of paper to 5" squared and scored it on all 4 sides at 7/8"


Next you trim a "V" at each corner.  And then fold and smooth each scored line.  Then turn over paper.


I added adhesive to each tab with my Xyron Mega Runner and then adhered each sticky tab on the inside to form the box lid.

Here is what it should look like.

Now that the lid is made, you need to follow the same process to make the "ornament holder" for the inside of the box.  I started with a piece of paper cut 4" square and scored it on all 4 side at 5/8".  Fold and smooth score lines and then trim "V's" in each corner.  


For this I decided to use my Xyron High Tack 3/16th" Adhesive Dots to each of the tabs.  Then I folded it  together as I did for the box lid.  These glue dots really worked fabulously for a quick tight hold. 

Now grab the box base that you cut out first and your Xyron Mega Runner.  I know that this looks amazingly like a box lid but if you turn it over it is now the ornament holder that you will adhere to the inside of your exploding box to keep your ornament in place.  


I put adhesive on the bottom of the ornament holder using my Xyron Mega Runner.  (it might be easier to add it to the bottom before you fold it all together)


Then I centered it in the inside of my box base and pressed it down.  Now you just need to decorate the inside and outside of your exploding box.  


I fussy cut some cute little Christmas characters from a sheet of patterned paper and had fun using my Xyron  1 1/2" Create a Sticker.  It is so super easy and fun to use.


After I trimmed out a character I fed it into the top of the sticker maker.


Then I just pulled down on the adhesive tape on the bottom until the character was completely out of the machine.  There is a ridged edge on the bottom to make it easy to trim the adhesive tape.


Then you just rub your finger over the image and peel off the top paper.  You are left with a sticker.  When you peel off the bottom paper you will have adhesive on the back of your character.  I fussy cut 4 different characters and added one to the outside of each panel of my box.  I added a flower to the top of my box lid and layered paper on each inside panel of the box.

I also made 4 floating decorations out of transparency film strips and and snow flakes from my stash.  I adhered each snowflake to acetate with my Xyron High Tack 3/16" Adhesive dots and added some crystal gems to each side of the snowflake using them also.  I colored the gems with my Spectrum Noir pen in DR5. Next I folded the end of the acetate strips a little bit (I didn't measure it) and tucked one under the ornament holder in each corner)


Last thing to do was make my card.  I decided to go pretty clean and simple.  


Using Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa, I stamped out the Reindeer sentiment from the Stamp It Australia Twinkle stamp set - Believe onto Ultra Smooth Premium white cardstock.  I sprinkled on some clear embossing powder and heat set it.  Then I die cut it out and colored it with Spectrum Noir EB1.  All that was left to do was layer it on to my base card with some other papers and finish it with a pretty bow and some Skittles.

Please check out the Xyron - Facebook page and follow along on their 30 Days of Gifts.  There will be prizes given away during this pairing so be sure and leave comments on the Crafter's Companion blog, Crafter's Companion facebook page and on the Crafter's Companion DT blogs (links to all DT blogs are on the sidebar of the Crafter's Companion blog.  You can find more giveaway information on November 15th on the Crafter's Companion blog.  You have until November 18th to leave your comments to try to win.

I will be entering this in:

 Anything Goes with Ribbon Challenge at Crafty Ribbons
Gift Bag or Box Challenge at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge
Glitter It Challenge at Happy Campers Craft Collective
Glitter Challenge at Hanna and Friends
CAS(E) this Sketch #54 at CAS(E) this Sketch
Challenge 71 Anything Goes at Addicted to Stamps
Anything Goes/CAS at Creative Moments

Thanks for stopping by today and looking!  Until next time...happy scrapping!

Stacy