:: brown paper packages tied up with strings ::

 Hi!  Just popping in to show you a few photos of my packages this year!  Each year I love choosing a "theme" or color to use when wrapping the presents under the tree.  I don't need them to be exactly alike, but I do enjoy the idea of them "going together" and acting as part of the decorations of the season.  This year we are all about red in our house…

We are also all about diy.  Almost every ornament on this tree, Bea and I made together over Thanksgiving break.  

I started with simple red/white twine (in bulk from the $1 spot at Target) and wrapped it around the plain brown paper. Used white card stock in my Big Shot to make the tag (Sizzixs die, with coordinating stamps), and added the "B" with the same twine -- using Amy Tangerine template for the letter.  Finally, on many of the packages I punched red, 1/2"circles out of washi tape and attached to the twine.

More stitching templates from Amy Tangerine for the "+" below Bea's name, more twine, more washi dots. The star at the top is from the dollar spot at Target (burlap and fabric, comes in a 3 pack).  I stamped Bea's name using Freckled Fawn stamps.

Rinse, repeat (only this time I didn't add the washi dots, instead a punched out washi stars and added them to the tag)!

An abundance of stars have joined us in our house this season!  On several of the packages, I stitched a star on the wrapping paper before wrapping.  Bea has enjoyed this, and wants to help.  She has actually become fairly skilled at stitching stars.

 

Even Snowflake the Elf has gotten in on the action.  

See you soon!

:: hello, i love you ::

Hi!  I am so excited to share the first card I made for The Rubber Cafe, featuring the Take Flight Creative Cafe Kit.  For this card I used the word 'hello' from the Soaring Above stamp set included in the kit, as well as the sentence "I love you" included in the bonus add-on set, Winging It. I also used several of the yummy patterned papers and a piece of awesome, smokey card stock.  For all the details check out my post at The Rubber Cafe!

..:: Swag Bag ::..

Hi!  I'm up on the Paper Issue Blog today with a couple of layouts that I made with the December Swag Bag. One of the things I love to do with all the goodies is create tons of layers with the included cards.

This story is all about Bea and her art!  We had an art day together, and she made all kinds of things -- one of which is actually included on this layout!  (See the far back reddish-pink layer?  That's hers)!

See that die cut right behind the bow?  That's one of Jen Chapin's FREE cut files, available here.)

  

So believe it or not, I made this layout about a fall visit to one of our favorite parks using the same kit I used with the first layout. I'm telling you, these kits are so versatile.  One of my favorite things included in the kit is that piece of polka dot burlap that is in the top left corner.  I liked it so much, I had to buy a whole sheet of it from the Paper Issues store!

I'm kinda digging the fox trend.

And I love this wood veneer!  Once again Cassie Box completely outdid herself when she put together this kit!

A Paper Issues Swag Bag subscription would be an awesome Christmas gift, just sayin'! :-)  And if you use the code 'orange gearle' you will get a 20% discount off your entire order!  

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!