More Victorian Christmas

Well, I don't know if this next project is truly Victorian, but it could qualify depending on the paper you choose and the ornate details you add.  I actually remember some ornaments like these when I was a child, but I'm not quite that old!  I'm talking about honeycomb paper ornaments like this one:

I found a great tutorial for this at Splitcoast Stampers, by Becca Feeken, so check that out.  It makes the process very clear.  

The procedure is not difficult at all, but it is time consuming and a bit tedious, but the results give you a lovely ornament to hang on your tree.  It involves die cutting 18 ornament shapes from the same DSP.  You cannot use cardstock for this.  The lighter weight the paper, the better.  It would have been better, had I owned a larger die for an ornament shape.  It would not have been so fiddly and you would have seen the honeycomb more easily, but this size was the only one I had.  I'll have to try one with just the largest circle framelit and see how that works.  

You save one of the negative spaces to use as a template.  You fold all 18 shapes in half vertically and one by one add glue dots to the inside at the locations marked "1" on the templates and marked "2" on the outside after which you add another shape and adhere it using the glue dots at the #2 locations.

I won't go into any more detail here, because the tutorial link is so informative and easy to follow.  I used Winter Frost DSP for my ornament, and if I ever have another 4 hours free, I might try a bigger one using Modern Medley or book pages or something similar.  Here's another look at it and a list of the supplies I used.

• On this photo, you can see that I added some Dazzling Diamond Glitter to the edges of the paper, using a Two-Way Glue Pen.
• The "crystal"  I used at the bottom is actually two Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons glued together with glue dots around the Pool Party Seam Binding ribbon.

Paper:  Winter Frost Design Series Paper (132341)

Accessories:  Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons (127555); 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Pool Party (125582); Sticky Strip Adhesive (104294); Glue Dots (103683); Island Indigo Baker's Twine (125575); Two Way Glue Pen (100425); Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (102023)

Tools:  Holiday Ornaments Framelits (127816); Big Shot (113439); Bone Folder (102300)

And just a quick reminder, that you have ONLY until Monday night to join my team for only $25!  Don't leave it to the last minute and end up being disappointed.  I don't believe this offer will ever be repeated!

Dazzling Diamonds Distress

DH:  Dear, why are there sparkles on the keyboard?  And why are there glittery things in the bathroom?  Just a minute, my toast is sparkling!  What's going on around here?

Me:  Uhh, I was sort of using Stampin' Glitter last night!

DH:  Well, whatever that is, it's evil!

Me:  I know.  It kind of held me captive while I was trying to craft this great ornament!  See, here it is on the front cover of the Holiday Mini Catalogue.

DH:  That doesn't look too bad.  How come Stampin' Ups' offices aren't swimming in sparkles?

Me:  I think they must use some kind of computer-generated virtual glitter there. I was totally covered in the stuff before I came to bed last night.

Well, you get the picture!  I love shiny!  I adore glimmer and sparkle!  What I don't love is the mess that the very fine Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter makes!  There's got to be a better way! 

Yes, I finally got around to crafting the ornaments on the front cover of the Holiday Mini catalogue.  I thought I'd whip up a few for the Glenrosa Elementary's Christmas Market coming up on Friday.  There is a contest for the most well-decorated booth, so I thought these would make an impression.

Just a word of warning - one does not simply "whip" these up.  After several hours I managed these two!

They use the Ornament Keepsakes stamps and the Holiday Ornaments framelits to create the 3D shapes you see.  The inks are Lucky Limeade and Real Red on Very Vanilla card stock.  I used the Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake scalloped tulle ribbon, but I think my pieces were too long.  I could have folded it in half.  The rosettes in the middle were created using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool and Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Paper Series.  They were topped with a Vintage Faceted Button and a Jumbo Pearl.

I used a Jumbo Sticky Round to assemble everything, but I think everything could have been moved closer to the center.

If you attempt this, make sure you have several hours free.  It took me a long time.  I opted to cut the shapes with the framelits first, before stamping, because then I could cut more than one at a time.  You need 20 of each ornament, so it's a big job.  Stampin' Up doesn't recommend cutting more than one at a time with the framelits, but I've never had a problem with cutting two layers, especially the lighter weight Very Vanilla or Whisper White.  To stamp the image on correctly you could use the Stamp-a-ma-jig, but I used my grid paper and the see-through clear mount block to help line it up.  The second one went much more quickly, but think I'll attempt something simpler to enhance these for the decorations.

Finally, I just want to thank all my customers who ordered during our recent sale, On Line Extravaganza!  November was my best month EVER!

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes (w128048; c128051)
Paper:  Candlelight Christmas DSP (126901); Very Vanilla card stock (101650)
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Lucky Limeade (126984) and Real Red (126949)
Accessories:   3 1/2" Tulle Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler ( 127841) and Crumb Cake (127840); Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons (127555), Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577); Linen Thread (104199); Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (102023)
Tools: Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334); Holiday Ornaments Framelits (127816) or bundled with the stamp set above (w129949; c129950); Jumbo Sticky Rounds (127852)

Ornament Keepsakes Bundle

 

Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter

 

Simply Scored Scoring Tool

 





Before the Snow Flies

Travelling can be fun, but there is so much preparation sometimes, that it can get tiring as well.  We want to head out soon on one more expedition to the north before the snow flies, to see our youngest grandbaby and our daughter and son-in-law.  They live about 11 hours north of us, and it won't be long until the temperature drops and the snow packs in for the winter, so it's now or never - or at least until late spring.

You'll get a taste of life in a small northern town by reading her blog:  Honey Nutbrown's.

I've been working hard to prepare for workshops and classes when I get back and I came up with one design to use for our November Technique Nights.  This month the theme is Fancy Fold cards, and I am planning to do an Easel Card, a Gate-Fold Card and this one:  A Swing Card.

I know, I know, it doesn't look much different, but see it in action:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, it was lots of fun to make using the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and the Holiday Ornaments framelits.  I also used some of the Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper!  It's sooo pretty.  And, of course you know that, during October, if you purchase this stamp set along with the Candlelight Christmas paper, that you will receive a FREE Festive Paper Piercing Pack, with templates for all these framelits and much more.  You need to use a special order code for this bundle, so let me know if you are interested. 

 

And NOW would be a great time to book a party during November.  My November time is quickly filling up, but there are going to be some special reasons why you'll want to book in November.  Just sayin'!  Wink, wink!

 

And finally, you should seriously consider joining my Stampin' Up team for the Christmas season.  Imagine getting all the Stampin' Up products you love at a 20% discount!  How about getting a sneak peek at all the new catalogue products before everyone else and a chance to pre-order the same products?  How about being independent and owning your own business in the fast-growing hobby and craft sector and representing a savvy but caring company with a heart for its demonstrators?  You can have all this and more for just $125!  And what's great is that you can pick any products from the current catalogues to a value of $155 to make up your Starter Kit and Stampin' Up with throw in $70 of business supplies for free!  Whether you are looking to start a profitable and fun home business, or just hobby craft for a discount, look into this wonderful opportunity here.

 

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes (w128048; c128051); Seasonal Sayings (w128006; c128009); Christmas Deer (w128144; c128146)

Paper:  Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP (126901); Early Espresso (119686), Real Red (102482) and Very Vanilla (101650) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Real Red (126949) and Early Espresso (126974)

Accessories: 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Real Red (119251); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)

Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439); Scallop Circle Bigz die (113468); Holiday Ornaments Framelits (127816) or bundled with the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set (w129949; c129950)

 

Special October Christmas Gift order codes are found here.