Here, turkey, turkey, TURKEY!

Alright...you guys that know me well, know that I'm not huge into punch art.  But...after I created this owl card, I showed it to the gals at Stamp Club.  It happened to be the same night that we made these same purse dies into bats.  Well, you get a group of gals together that are brilliantly creative, and this little Turkey was thought up.  I just finally got a chance to put the thoughts into action.  (I hope I did it well Denison Gals!)

This actually went together darn quick.  The most time consuming was the corny feathers.  I inked them up with More Mustard and then went right over the top with markers - Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy, and  Cajun Craze.  Because I didn't wipe the corn cob clean of More Mustard first, it seems to have made the colors more uniform.  Punched a couple of circles for the eyes, used the leaf branch from the bird punch for the waddle and the tip of one of the blossoms for the beak.

And, while I don't love punch art usually, I must say....this guy is stinkin' cute!

I covered up all of the layered corn cobs with a big leaf on the back - was just trying to clean that up a bit.

What do you think?  Good little place holders at your Thanksgiving table?  I'd love to hear your thoughts - just leave me a comment!

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NOV. 1–DEC. 16, 2012
*Neutrals Collection not eligible
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Turkey Treat box recipe:

Perfectly Preserved Soft Suede Cardstock More Mustard Cardstock Very Vanilla CS Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations Markers More Mustard Ink White Gel Pen Blossom Punch Bird Punch 1/2" Circle Punch Cannery Framelit Dies Petite Purse Die

InLinkz.com

Shine!

I was recently flipping thru an old issue of Cards Magazine and came to a page that I had dog-eared.  The card on the page was that of a sunburst and that's when an idea popped into my head!  I love it when that happens.  Wouldn't a sunburst behind the silhouette of Baby Jesus be striking (and very fitting?).  With that idea, I went straight to work.  Recently, Mr. Jim (aka my UPS man) delivered this Champagne Glitter paper, and I thought that would be perfect.  I started with a Midnight Muse card base, but it just didn't "do it" for me.  So I tried the champagne on Cherry Cobbler.  Much better.  (I think if I had used the silver glimmer paper, the Midnight would have worked fine)  So, this is the card that evolved:

Pretty simple.  And that's what I was going for.  Jesus is the reason for the holiday and this card is all about Him.  I did use the Core'dinations Cardstock in Cherry Cobbler, just for the texture.  I think any embossing would have been too much.

Are you wondering how to do the sunburst?  Easy peasy!  Some companies have a stamp that you can stamp and then cut, and some have dies.  Guess what.  You don't need either!  Create a card front - any size you want is fine.  Here, I've used a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 card base.  Flip your paper over (so you don't have to erase pencil lines)  Pick the spot where you want your focal point.  Just remember, because we've turned our paper over, the focal spot is going to be on the opposite side.  Now, take a ruler and draw lines out from your focal point to the edges.  You will need an even number of spaces.

The nice thing is, when you do this, you'll get enough bursts for two card fronts.  All you need to do is cut one your lines and you are ready to adhere to your card!  I marked mine so that I know which rays work together.  Didn't I tell you that it was easy!!!

Now, scroll back up.  Look at the Vanilla die cut behind Baby Jesus - can you figure out what die that came from?

Stampin’ Up!® is offering not just one, but two ways for you to get FREE ink!*
NOV. 1–DEC. 16, 2012
*Neutrals Collection not eligible
Host a $450 party!
Not only will you be able to choose a FREE ink collection, you’ll also get $65 in hostess dollars and a 50%-off item!
Join the Stampin’ Up! family!
A free collection of ink pads is a great incentive, but so is a 20% product discount, a demonstrator only magazine, stamping events, and access to an exclusive website with thousands of project ideas!

Contact me TODAY to find out more!

Shine Card Recipe:

First Christmas Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations Champagne Glimmer Paper Very Vanilla CS Chocolate Chip Cardstock Versamark Ink Pad Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder Apothecary Accents Framelits Basic Pearls

InLinkz.com

FINALLY! The 12th Day of Christmas!!!!

Well....the 12th, errr....13th day of Christmas is finally here.  I believe my technical difficulties are behind me...let's cross our fingers anyway.  I always (used to) consider myself computer literate.  Then difficulties arise and I feel like a dumbo.  Anyway.  I'm back up and running.

So, on this last day of Christmas Gettin' Gifty creations, I've whipped up some yummy goodness.  I started off with a mini loaf of homemade pumpkin bread.  Have you noticed the cellophane bags that Stampin' Up! has included in the Holiday Catalog? They are tucked in there - a little bit hidden - on page 34.  You get 25 bags for $3.95.  Talk about a steal.  I'm very impressed with the quality of them.  They are a bit heavier to resist wrinkling - I love that about them.  BUT - what I really like is that they aren't humongous.  Perfectly sized to fit a mini loaf of bread, fill it with some yummy snack mix - you know that kind with the white almond bark on it - we call it Snowman Chow around here!

Alrighty...so I wrapped up a loaf, added a tulle bow, and a little tag using the jar from Perfectly Preserved and die cut it with the Cannery dies.  This was pretty simple, btw.  Just fold your paper in half, stamp it really  close to the fold, then with the paper folded in half, die cut it.  No worries, it'll cut thru both layers!
Cover up the top with the "jar wrapper" image - this is great to use if you miss stamped a bit and cut off the top....

If you are going to give the bread as a little gift, you just as well include some delish butter and coffee too, right?

Whip up some super yummy Cinnamon Honey Butter and put it into a lil' half pint jar. ( I love them - they are so dainty and cute!)  How do you make the butter?  Super easy.  Even easier if you haven't recently broke your hand mixer!

Cinnamon Honey Butter
2 sticks butter (please use REAL butter!)
1 C powdered sugar
1 C honey
2 tsp. cinnamon ( I like to use Pampered Chef's Cinnamon Plus)

Whip this until light and fluffy.  Makes 4 half pint jars and then some extra.  And seriously - I could eat this stuff straight out of the jar - it's THAT good!

Grind up some fresh coffee grounds and voila! You've got a super duper gift for your neighbors, your BFF's, or a Christmas party hostess!

What do you think?  Did you enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas Gettin' Gifty Guide?  I know I had a lot of fun creating all of this goodness.  I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments!  Chatter away peeps!

12th Day of Christmas...DELAYED!

Sorry!  Due to some technical difficulties, I have to delay the final 12th Day of Christmas post until tomorrow!  Please check back soon!

In the meantime....

Stampin' Up! is offering a very Ink-redible promotion this month!



Hostesses who hold a minimum $450 party during the promotion period will receive a FREE collection of Classic Stampin Pads--they can choose from Brights, Subtles, or Regals--a $49.95 value!  Plus, the free ink is in addition to the regular hostess benefits--INK-redible!

New demonstrators who join the Stampin' Up! family during the promotion period will received a FREE collection of Classic Stampin Pads--they can choose from Brights, Subtles, or Regals! It's INK-redible!

With the holidays at our doorsteps this is a great time to join my Stamp Us Silly team!  You'll get a discount on products that you can turn into great gifts for family and friends!  AND...I just had a sneak peak of the absolutely, amazing, to-die-for Spring Catalog.  You can get those products earlier than anyone else.  Did I mention, there will be a discount on those products?  What's more....Sale-A-Bration is also coming.  As a demonstrator, we earn EVEN MORE freebies during that time.  So, for $99, you get $125 worth of fantastic products (that you get to pick) plus an entire color collection of INK!!!  It truly is INK-redible!

Contact me today!

On the 11th day of Christmas...

Please note: This is my second post of the day!  If you are looking for today's Paper Players post, scroll down or click here.

I got a few treats in this little milk box.  These little milk boxes are a cinch to put together.  My kids love them - and they are great for school gift giving.  Assembly is super easy - and embellishing is a breeze when you use the Make a Mitten with the coordinating punch.  I tied up the top with the stampable cotton ribbon and some sweater soft knit ribbon, leaving the "pouring" side of the carton open for easy access.  Will's class will likely see these in a month and a half at their class party!

Well, folks - I'm off to church and then we've got a birthday party to throw for my little guy who turns 5 tomorrow!  I can't believe he's gonna be 5!!!

The Paper Players Color Challenge #121

We're bringing you a color challenge this week.  For me, this was quite a challenge in more than one way!  I saw Bravo Burgundy, and practically shuddered.  My first thought was....I know what my Bravo Burgundy ink pad looked like, and it's not pretty.  It was the VERY first ink pad I bought.  Back in the day, these were the colors I gravitated towards.  Yeah.  My poor BB ink pad is shriveled and miss colored from lack of use I'm sure.  I even think I heard it groan when I opened it to take a peek at it.  I put that back on the shelf.  I did find one lone piece of BB cardstock, so decided to run with it.  I took a rather clean and simple approach with my card.  In fact, I turned to Clean and Simple Blog for my sketch this week.

In the end, I'm pretty darn impressed with how nicely these colors work together.  I even like my card.

Hope you will make the time to play along with us this week.  Go and get some inspiration from the design team - they've got some superb projects to get you going!

The Paper Players Design Team

Amy White

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Dawn Easton

Helen Heil

Jaydee

Jen Arkfeld

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

On the 10th day of Christmas....

....I'm about to explode!  With JOY that is!  My true love delivered this adorable little box....what could be in it?

Let's take that sweet lid off and find out what's inside, shall we?

Whelp....I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas.....  So, this one happens to be empty, but it's large enough that I could fit in a cute pair of socks or gloves....some candy (like I need that....), I'm betting even a coffee mug might fit in...maybe.  I does measure 4x4x4.  Jewelry would fit nicely.  Perfume.....we're on a roll here.

There's even a spot to write a little message!

Alrighty - we've got a BIG weekend - school supper and auction tonight and a HUGE birthday to celebrate tomorrow.  Must go make a cake!  Alex is turning 5 on Monday....we're celebrating tomorrow with family.

Stay tuned....

On the 9th day of Christmas...

....I'm needing more coffee!!!  Don't we all feel like that somedays?  More coffee, puh-lease!  At about the 9th day of Christmas, I'm wishing the Lazy Days of Summer were back.  Things get chaotic, my house is in shambles, and I'm starting to feel worn down.  By the 9th day of Christmas, I'm beginning to contemplate my Christmas Vacation for the next year.  The one where me and the hubs pack up the kids and travel to some remote cabin in the woods.  Where we can just veg, play board games and read books by the crackling fire. Ahh....a Norman Rockwell Christmas!  And then I wake up and realize that's never gonna happen.

So, how about giving your co-worker the gift of mocha, or java, or any little beverage packet this will fit inside this lil' envelope?  That would be sure to mocha MY day!

This is quite a "whip it up quick" kind of gift - think under 10 minutes!  If you'd like the template, feel free to email me, and I'll get it out to you!

Ta-ta!

On the 8th day of Christmas....

I received some hot chocolate!  We made these up last year in my Stamp Clubs, but I couldn't resist using this for my 12 Days Of Christmas Gettin' Gifty guide this year!  Plus, this adorable little stamp just fits the bill here!

So....this is kind of like a long card, but it's a skinny little box.  I decorated the front with some snowy DSP from the Snow Festival Collection.  And that stamped image comes from Wonderful Winterland.  I colored it using Watercolor Pencils.  You might be shocked, but I hadn't used the watercolor pencils until recently, and I love how easy they are to use! If you need to blend them, they work up beautifully with a blender pen.

Here's how the packet opens. I punched a 2 1/2" hole in it so that the recipient gets a peek at what's inside.  This little box would also be perfect for those large candy bars!  If you'd like the template for the box, contact me and I'll get it to you - or just leave a comment with your email addy!

On the 7th Day of Christmas....

...it was all wrapped up in an adorable gift bag.

Alright - let me channel my inner crafty Larry the Cable Guy for a second.  "I don't care who you are...this bag is ca-UTE!"  I would love to receive a little a gifty in this - just love it!  A little patting on my back if you will...
This was darn easy to create and pretty easy too.  I used the Floral Framelits to die cut the top, and then stamped and die cut  one size smaller to layer with.  Punched two holes, and strung some bakers twine thru, tying up some ruffly ribbon and a Faceted Button.  Don't you just love those buttons?  Adds a bit of blingy sparkle with some vintage flair.  Plus you get a ton of them in the package (24 to be exact) in three different sizes for a mere 5.95.  Pure awesomeness!  Speaking of sparkle....

It's hard to see in the pictures - but on the striped patterned paper, I stamped a Bold Snowflake (brand new single stamp!) in Whisper White and then embossed it with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.

What do you think?  I'd love to hear your thoughts....just leave me a comment!

On the 6th day of Christmas...

...my true love gave to me....some yummy sweets under the tree....

Do you give out homemade fudge, or cookies at Christmas time???  Wouldn't they be adorable packaged up in this little glassine bag?  Let me tell you - these were so simple and easy to put together.  I took a piece of DSP from the Festival of Prints mini pack (isn't that the best?) and then let that decide my colors.  I do that often.  Grab DSP first and then decide what colors to work with.   This happens to be one of the "go-to" card sketches that I use all the time, and I just enlarged slightly for these little bags.  The focal point was stamped in both Lucky Limeade and Cherry Cobbler, then die cut.  I trimmed the Cherry colored one to fit, and popped it up.  I took a strip of Cherry Cobbler and embossed it and then cut it into a banner shape.  Topped with a strip of Lucky Limeade - that I used an edgelit on.  Glue on some buttons, voila!!!  Just need to fill with some yummy fudge. (my favorite!  Especially Black Walnut fudge!)

How do you wrap up your yummy treats to make them special???  Leave a comment and let me know!

On the 5th day of Christmas....

....Jars are all the rage right - why not include them in your giftable collection??  Wouldn't you love to receive a gift in this adorable jar??  I know I would.  And let me tell you - these are super simple to create.

I started by picking a couple of sheets of coordinating patterned paper.  I wrapped one around the jar itself. Then I die cut a doily (or you could use a paper doily found in the crafts/cake department)  I used this as the base for my lolly.  (that's the pleated circle thingy)  Added a punched circle on top of that, then tied some ribbon up with one of Stampin' Up's faceted buttons and linen thread. Glue, glue, glue!  Hot glue works the best, although you could use....Tombow.

Glue it to the front of your jar and then package up something special.  Candy, earrings, a necklace...

...or some coordinating clothespin magnets!  These are also super to craft.  Just use strips of scrap paper and glue them onto the fronts.  Add some adornments - like the buttons here.  Adhere a strip of magnet to the back and you've got a great little gift!  

You can order the supplies from my website - http://jenarkfeld.stampinup.net  Just click on the SHOP NOW button in the upper right corner!

See you tomorrow!

On the 4th day of Christmas....

....today, I've transformed a simple junior notepad into something a little more exciting!  This is something you can whip up quickly and on the cheap!

My note pad measured about 8 x 5.  So I cut my sheet of cardstock to 8 x 10 1/2.  I scored it at 5 1/8" and 5 3/8".  This gave me a slight overhang over the edge of the pad.  Easy!  Next. It's all about decorating.  I didn't want mine over done in Holiday colors.  So I went out on a limb.  Here you see Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla.  I used a wheel to stamp across the bottom and top in Raspberry Ripple, I didn't want it to stand out too much.  I embossed a piece of Early Espresso Core'dinations paper and sanded lightly to get the lighter core to stand out.  I put some die cut border strips at the top and bottom to put some contrast, then stamped the notes letters and cut them out.  A piece of Raspberry Ripple ribbon anchors the letters and serves as a closure for the pad.  Simple, easy, quick and cheap.  Perfect for teachers,  great for stocking stuffers.  Make one for everyone you know - these are easy to customize.