Showing posts with label Christmas decorations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas decorations. Show all posts

Sunday, 7 December 2025

Traditions of Christmas for Paper Players 367

Welcome to the final Paper Players Challenge for 2025! It's hard to credit that another year has rolled by. Thanks to everyone who entered Claire's Tic-Tac-Toe challenge last week. The entries were beautiful and varied so touring the gallery was a lot of fun. 

Jaydee has set us our final challenge and it's definitely one for the season (or you could say that it was a year-round theme): Gifting.


I thought there were a number of ways to look at this challenge: cards with the theme of a gift, things you could make and give as gifts or ways to package a gift for giving. 

I've sort of gone for the latter. Each year, I like to make table gifts for the big day and I try to do something different each year: a kind of Christmas Cracker but not.

I haven't quite finished them all yet but I have made some - here they are. Custom made to fit a scratchy ticket plus other stuff.


I usually include a scratchy ticket in my faux cracker creation and every year I end up scrunching it, rolling it or folding it to fit whatever it is that I made. This year, I made it the star by measuring one and making the box to size. It's a box with a flip-top lid, as you'll see in the bottom photo.

I chose the so, so beautiful Traditional Christmas DSP. Who wouldn't be enchanted by the rich reds, white and gold with touches of Secret Sea, Old Olive and Pool Party? Some boxes have a Secret Sea base, some Cherry Cobbler (my favourite red) and some Pool Party. I can get 2 bases from one piece of A4 card. Then I added a 10cm x 5 cm piece of DSP to the top, filled each one with goodies and tied it up with some of the lovely Gold Mesh ribbon. 


I decided that they needed something else to look finished so I got out my (sadly retired) Tailor Made Tags and cut some white and some base coloured tags and ring reinforcements. I needed a small greeting and found one in a retired set, then I added some pine needles using a stamp from Branching Out. 


Here you can see how the box opens. The scratchy ticket is at the bottom, not folded or scrunched or rolled, with other things on top. I notched the opening end to make it easier open.

Of course, the nice thing about a box like this is that it could hold anything: some handmade soaps, some jewellery, vouchers, teabags.... whatever you want all with half a piece of A4, a scrap of DSP and some ribbon. And the customisation of sizing is really very easy - so easy, I've made a video to show you how to put the box together and the first few minutes is how to work out the sizing if you'd like to make this in a different size. 



What sort of gifting creation will you make?
You can see what the rest of the team have done and link up your entry on The Paper Players page. 

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
  1. Create a new paper-craft project specifically for this challenge.
  2. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us.
  3. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge entry.
  4. Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL, including ours
  5. Have fun, and thank you for playing with us!
Don't forget to check out the great inspiration from the rest of the design team.

Anne Marie Hile (on leave)
Jan Clothier - You are here

You can stamp with me, and shop with me, from anywhere in New Zealand. Click here.




 

Thursday, 21 November 2024

Creativity Abounds November



This month the international team at Creativity Abounds has a great theme for our bundle and hop: Holiday Packaging and Decorations. This hop - and the associated tutorial bundle - will give you a lot of examples for Holiday decorations and packaging. 

Even if you don't have the exact sets, you'll find inspiration in the gift packaging ideas.  If you get the tutorial bundle, you'll have step-by-step instructions for thirteen projects, all of which you'll see as you go around the hop.

You can earn the Tutorial Bundle as a free gift from me with a purchase of $100 or more (excluding P&P) or by being a member of my team. You can shop with me, and join my team, from anywhere in New Zealand.

There are two parts to this post: a decoration idea and a sneak peek at my tutorial project.

A Christmas Decoration Idea

I'm a big fan of the Round We Go bundle and it's just tailor-made for making Christmas tree (or any occasion) decorations. I like that you can choose to make either round scallop-edge rosettes or pointy ended one. 


While you can make these out of any DSP, I've used the Season of Green & Gold (an online exclusive), Gold Foil and Festive Glimmer Paper. The hanger is made with Gold Twisted Thread (another online exclusive).

There's nothing tricky about these. Just use the dies as intended and away you go! I did think about adding a large gem in the centre but decided there was enough bling-iness going on already. 

PS A hot glue gun is handy, but not essential, in putting these together. 😀

Tutorial Bundle Peek

My bundle project is a cute little mini shopping bag, which I adapted from one shown to me by my up-line many years ago. They make great table favours for any occasion but made from Christmas papers they work well to add a festive element to the table if you don't want crackers. They're also perfect for packaging small gifts or for little thank-you favours. It's just the right size for some wrapped lollies or some tea bags and chocolate squares. 😀


Here's a sneak peek at the rest of the tutorial bundle.


If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. 

You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking here. 

If you don't live in New Zealand, you can get it from any of my team mates in your country. Here they all are. We welcome Lisa and Ingrid to the team! 


Save the Date Stamp Camp 2025





Thursday, 16 November 2023

Christmas Packaging for Creativity Abounds

 


Welcome to the latest hop with the Creativity Abounds team! We're a group of demonstrators from around the world who come together to share ideas and inspiration with you. 


On the third Wednesday of the month, we hop to share some inspiration with you on a particular theme or set. This month, we're featuring Christmas packaging, gifts or decorations to help you get ready for Christmas. 

I've created one project to share with you today - and a second one as part of the Creativity Abounds Tutorial Bundle for November. This 13 tutorial bundle is free from me with a qualifying purchase of $90 or more. If you live somewhere other than New Zealand and purchase from a team member there, you'll receive the tutorial bundle from them.

The Christmas packaging product that Stampin' Up! offers that I love the best is the Cracker and Treat Box Die set. I like that it can be made in different sizes, including the up-sized version I'm sharing today. I like that they can be used as table favours, as treat packages or for gift packaging. How lovely to get a piece of jewellery or small perfume in a package like this?

However, mine are to decorate my Christmas table and as table favours for the big day. 


The Shining Brightly Specialty DSP was the only choice for me for the opulent look I was after. The patterns come in two colours: Night of Navy and Gold, or Very Vanilla and Gold and you can see which I've chosen!


I used one of the label dies from the set to add a name. Then I added in some foliage from Timeless Arrangements in Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler. The cord is from the Simply Elegant  Trim combo. 

For each Jumbo Cracker you will need:

1 piece of Shining Brightly DSP 13cm x 15.5cm (5" x 6")
1 piece of matching Shining Brightly DSP 7cm x 15.5cm (2 3/4" x 6")
Very Vanilla 2.5cm x 6.5cm (1" x 2 1/2")
Elegant Trim cord 60cm (24")
Scraps of Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler
  1. From the large piece of DSP, cut one cracker die and from the small piece cut 1/2 the cracker die (i.e. 3 sections). I cut mine slightly bigger then trimmed them to size with the paper trimmer. Alternatively, cut three of the whole die pieces then cut one in half so you can create two crackers.
  2. Join the two sections by adhering one section over the end of the other to create one longer section. Take care that the overlapping section match perfectly.
  3. Finger fold all the score lines.
  4. Adhere the two end sections together to create a cylinder, again making sure that the overlapping sections match perfectly.
  5. Cut the cord into two 30cm (12") sections Fold in the end carefully and tie a bow with one of the lengths of cord to close off the end. 
  6. Turn up so the closed end is at the bottom. Insert your goodies or gift then use the second section of cord to tie off the other end with a bow. 
  7. Die cut a label in your chosen shape from the Very Vanilla.
  8. Die cut two Garden Green and two Cherry Cobbler leaves using the small pieces from the Timeless Arrangements dies. Layer one of each together and add one pair to each end of the label.
  9. Attach the decorated label to the cracker barrel with dimensionals.
If the written instructions weren't 100% clear, grab a cup of coffee and watch this instead.



Here's a sneak peek at the Creativity Abounds Tutorial Bundle, our gift to our customers.

And here's a better look at my tutorial project which can be used as either a gift tag or a tree decoration.


If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. 

You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking here. Don't forget if you purchase from me, you'll receive the thirteen tutorials in the Creativity Abounds Tutorial Bundle as a free gift. 


Wednesday, 9 November 2022

Lights Aglow for Around the World on Wednesday



Thank you for joining in with the latest hop from the crew at Around the World on Wednesday. If you haven't hopped with us before, we're a group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators from every time zone in the world where Stampin' Up! operates. You're here with me, in New Zealand.

Each month we present a different theme to inspire you to create.
This month, our theme is 'Festive Paperscapes'.

This time last year, I did some great things for a baby shower but when I moved house, I seem to have misplaced them all! So I started thinking about my Christmas table for this year instead!

This year, my go-to Christmas gear has been the Lights Aglow suite because the images in Christmas Lights and the sentiments from Brightest Glow are beautiful and so very compatible. Add in the gorgeous Lights Aglow DSP and you have all you could need for Christmas.

Well, when I say 'everything' the other great addition to the stash are the Cracker & Treat Box dies, but they are not just a Christmas thing. 


First up, I made these table decorations using the Brightest Glow and Labels Aglow bundles. They are really very easy, as the video below shows.


The table crackers, packed with some festive treats and a punny Christmas joke, look great in the Brightest Glow Specialty DSP. The Cracker & Treat Box dies make crackers a breeze and you can vary the size of them, depending on how you put them together. I've made these bigger than the standard size and if you're unsure of how to do that, it's on the video below as well. 


If you'd like to try out either of these projects, then here's a quick tutorial.



Next up on the hop is the inspirational Leonie Stuart from Australia.


If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or on any of the products below.

Here's the list of participants in the hop, if you get lost or just want to re-visit.

Product List

Wednesday, 13 December 2017

Fab Friday 127 Free for All


Fab Friday is having a Free For All party. Hopefully, that includes not-cards!


Many years ago, I worked at a school where a lot of us patched and quilted. One of the others started a Christmas decoration group. Now, nearly 30 years later and even though we're all scattered around, we get together near Christmas and exchange decorations over a lovely lunch at one of our homes.

Over the years, we've diversified into different crafts and interests. For many years, I made different angels. Then, I went through an embroidery stage, making various cross-stitch, hardanger and blackwork decorations. I even had a brief flirtation with beading. Some of the others always work in felt. One woman loves to make 3D stuffed creations so often makes gorgeous things like tiny teddies in Christmas fabrics, complete with mini-button joints. Our trees are an eclectic mix of handcrafted decorations. 

Some years, the decorations are quick makes. Sometimes they're labour intensive, taking two or three hours per item. It's the same for the whole group depending on the idea we've had - and that's always a closely guarded secret! We take along our seven of the same decoration and come home with a basket with seven different ones.

This year, it's been a quick make but I'm pleased with how they've turned out.



I really like the way the checked paper has made such a fabulous pattern when it's made into a circle.


Regular readers - don't forget that shortly, this blog will be re-named Thinking Stamping. Don't be alarmed. If you follow me by email, you will automatically be re-directed to the new address www.thinkingstamping.co.nz

Ingredients
Card: Year of Cheer DSP, Copper and gold foil
Dies: Seasonal Layers thinlit dies
Other: Clear and gold faceted gems, scoring board, circle dies, metallic thread, hot-glue gun