Psst... If you are reading this post on November 19th, please note that we are getting the tour ready and testing the links to make sure everything is working. The official tour begins on the 20th, so if you cannot make the whole round tonight, hang in there with us!
Welcome to our November Tour de Freaks! This tour is brought to you by the Control Freaks Stampers members and if you have been following the tour, you should have gotten to my blog by clicking on the link provided by Wendy Weixler on her blog. If you are just starting out, make sure to visit all twelve blogs that are part of the tour today by following the links provided at the bottom of each post. Our theme this month is Christmas Gifts: small items, altered items, stocking stuffers, gift collections, and ornaments. So without further ado, here are the fun projects I would like to share with you this month!
My first project: 2010 Calendar
Use your stamps to personalize the 2010 calendar sold in the current minicatalogue.
Project info: All of the calendar pages were matted with 4 x 4 in. pieces of colored cardstock. I used the Holiday Blitz stamp set to add image on the left margin of each monthly page in the following In Colors: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry. To paint the chipboard easel, I added a few drops of Rich Razzleberry reinker in White Frost shimmer paint and applied it to the chipboard with a paintbrush.
Supplies
Stamps: Holiday Blitz
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Inks: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay
Punches: Scallop Square, Scallop Circle, circles, 3/4 Square
Accessories: In Colors markers, Vintage brads, two-way glue, Dazzling Diamonds glitter
My second project: Tin Frame
I had one of those "Why didn't I think of this before?!" moments when I figured the silver tins sold by SU! would make great frames. And they do!
Project info: The inside and outside of the tin was decorated with the Patterned Pines hostess set. On the front, the snowflake was stamped in Versamark and embossed with clear powder directly on the tin and I used the Eyelet Border punch to tie in with the inside. To make the detailing on the trees stand out more, I used the emboss-resist technique: I stamped the trees in Versamark, embossed them with clear powder and added White Frost shimmer paint with a sponge, then wiped the paint off of the embossing with a tissue. It creates a very nice shimmer effect!
Supplies
Cardstock: Real Red, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Inks: Real Red, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Versamark
Punches: Eyelet Border
Accessories: Silver tin, wide striped Olive grosgrain ribbon, clear embossing powder,
White Frost shimmer paint, mat pack and paper piercer
My third project: Little Sleigh
Turn the Pillow Box into a cute little winter sleigh.
Project info: I didn't have a pattern for the skates on the sleigh, so I just eyeballed it and cut two skates out of Silver cardstock. The pillow box was cut out of red polka dot patterned paper (from the Christmas Jingle kit), on which I overstamped the Woodgrain background in Chocolate Chip and drew lines with a marker. Can you guess what I used to make the front of the sleigh? If you look more closely, you'll recognize the chipboard shape taken out of the calendar easel! I embossed it in silver powder, added a red grosgrain ribbon underneath and a bow of holly taken from the Christmas Jingle sticker sheets.
Oh, and what's inside? In my case, candy, but it would be a perfect gift box for a gift card or a nice piece of jewelry.
Supplies
Stamps: Woodgrain
Cardstock: Silver
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Simply Scrappin' Kit: Christmas Jingle
Die: Pillow Box
Accessories: Red grosgrain ribbon, Silver embossing powder, Chocolate Chip marker, ruler,
chipboard piece from Calendar easel
My fourth project: Ribbon Wreath
Last but not least, a nice recycling idea!
Project info: I guess I could have thrown the plastic ring after I had used all of my Sticky Strip, but somehow it ended up in the "For later creative use" bin. Which came in handy today when I looked for something to make a wreath with! This is quite easy: simply tie knots of Olive wide grosgrain ribbon all around the plastic ring until it is completely covered. It needed berries, so I tried the newly-discovered rosette technique with red grosgrain ribbon. Add accents (buttons, brads, pearls) and finish off with a ribbon loop to hang wreath from.
Supplies
Accessories: Red grosgrain ribbon, Olive grosgrain ribbon, Recreation buttons, linen thread, Pretties kit (pearls), Rhinestone brad, Sticky Sheets, Red polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, mini glue dots
And your link back to the first stop on the tour: Patty Bennett's blog!
One word: WOW!
I love all of your creative ideas. Especially when it comes to recycling. Oh, and the sleigh?! Can you say "awesome"?! Jeez, you're a genius.
Fantastic projects, all of them.
CeeCee
Posted by: CeeCee | November 20, 2009 at 00:33
All I can say, Cindy, is .... WOW!! Oh my goodness!! Each and every one of these projects is STELLAR!!! (A little sleigh??? Embossing clear on the tins?? Recycling the ring from your sticky strip? And that calendar!! Holy moley!! You have outdone yourself, my friend!!! Everything is wonderful!! :)
Posted by: Wendy W. | November 20, 2009 at 08:17
Awesome projects, Cindy! LOVE the pillow box sleigh...just darling. And a cute wreath! Beautiful tin...and wonderful calendar! You hit a home run!
Posted by: Connie | November 20, 2009 at 08:35
WOW! You created so many goodies this month. The little sleigh and ribbon wreath are my favorites; I've never seen anything like it before. They're beautiful.
Posted by: Melanie Schulenberg | November 20, 2009 at 09:46
Fantastic cuteness! I'd never thought to clear emboss on a metal tin and your sleigh--WOW!
Posted by: Rhonda | November 20, 2009 at 10:12
Great job on personalizing the calendar! I almost did a sleigh too (using the wood sheets). I have an antique sleigh that I wanted to "copy". Yours turn out great! I'm gonna have to make some!
Posted by: DOstamping | November 20, 2009 at 10:45
I LOVE your projects, that are all delightful and inspiring!
Posted by: Stephanie P. | November 20, 2009 at 12:13
You've been busy! Just love your projects!
Hugs!
Posted by: Vicki | November 20, 2009 at 14:11
Lots of great projects- love them all! TFS
Posted by: Shelly Schmidt | November 21, 2009 at 00:28
Oh Cindy...your projects are all just WONDERFUL!!!! It's been so long since I've done one of the tins with the embossing on it...how cute! Your wreath ornament is just such a GREAT idea!
Posted by: Mary Brown | November 21, 2009 at 07:30
WOW! These are all just so amazing! I don't know where to start! Love the sleigh, and your calendar is gorgeous! The altered tin/frame is fabulous and I love that wreath. Beautifully done projects. Thanks for sharing so many with us!!
Posted by: Laura (scrapnextras) | November 21, 2009 at 23:14
Shut up! I can't believe how fantastic all these projects are! That little sled just blew me away!
Posted by: Angie Tieman | November 25, 2009 at 16:21
Cindy, these are all beautiful ideas. Oh, I love the little sleigh. How cute is that! Great job!
Posted by: Wendy J. | November 27, 2009 at 11:49