FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

Isn't this snowman just the cutest thing?  I've seen the idea for this gift box using the Big Shot Top Note die on several blogs I visit.  So, I'm not exactly sure who to give the original credit.  I used Angie Juda Kennedy's tutorial for the box.  You can check it out here.   

I needed some bags to put Christmas goodies in for my piano students. They have all been working hard on their Christmas songs this season. I just wanted to show my appreciation to each of them. I purchased some treat size bags of mini M&M's, small boxes of Nerds and different flavors of lip balm to put inside their goodie bags. I hope they like them! I guess I'll find out tomorrow night.

I ran Basic Black and Whisper White card stock through the Big Shot to form the snowman's face and hat.  The brim of the hat was rounded with a SU! corner rounder punch.  Next, I punched out the 5-Petal Flower punch twice on Real Red card stock and once on Garden Green card stock with Summer Sun card stock 1/4" circle punch (retired) circles to make the middle of the poinsettia.  I freehanded the nose and the "coal" pieces for the mouth.  The eyes were made using SU!'s large and small oval punches.  I used a sponge dauber with Pretty in Pink classic ink to create his rosy cheeks.  I also sponged Whisper White craft ink on his hat and nose to give him a more "frosty" look.   I think the rest is fairly self-explanatory.  If you have any questions, just give me a shout.

Well, that's all for me tonight.  My son wants to start a puzzle before he heads off to bed.  Thanks for peeking in on me today!

WELCOME CHRISTMAS

Busy, busy, busy .............  Isn't it that way each Christmas season?  Tonight I wanted to create a fairly simplistic card - nothing too over the top.  And you know what?  I think I accomplished that.  I'm using a sketch from Diva Coffee Break Designs.  It's sketch #147 to be exact.  Here's the sketch layout.  I love playing along with their weekly challenges even

if I don't always complete them within the week.  Plus, I have some exciting news!  I was the picked as the Featured Artist for the Diva Coffee Break Designs Challenge #155.  I was thrilled beyond words!  Okay, enough babbling and on with the card.  I added Stampin' Up!'s Chunky Glitter to my dove image.  I wasn't sure how it would look, but I was pleased with the results.  It just gives it a little somethin' somethin'.  You know what I mean?  To get the poinsettia on this card, I simply used my 5-Petal Flower punch and punched the flower out twice on Real Red card stock and added a dimensional to make it more pronounced.  I also punched the flower out once on Garden Green card stock and cut two of the petals off to get the leaves.  Look closely at the buttons at the top of the card.  Did you notice that I didn't actually thread the buttons with real thread?  I cut small strips of Whisper White card stock and threaded it through each button and attached the strips with mini glue dots on the back of the buttons.  It's so much easier!

Well, that's it for me tonight.  I'm going to check out ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.  I'm not sure what's being shown tonight, but I enjoy the Christmas shows.  Thanks for peeking in on me today!  If you have previously commented on my posts, I'd like to give you a great big thank you!  Comments are always welcome and so greatly appreciated!

Supplies:  Stamps - Gifts of Christmas, Heard from the Heart; Card Stock - Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White; Ink - Garden Green, Real Red Marker; Accessories - Playground Buttons (Red), White Chunky Essentials Stampin' Glitter, Earth Elements Brads, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Dimensionals, Paper Piercer, Mini Glue Dots