Altered Canister

Cookies Anyone? Sorry for the poor quality of the picture but I used the Wicked Cool stamp set for this altered cookie canister. This is another holiday gift for a special someone. I made the belly band using my favorite Halloween set, Wicked Cool.

Then, I made a belly band for spring/ summer. Used some Designer series paper for the base and then stamped the flowers from  Stampin' Up's Eastern Blooms in the middle.

Then finally, a belly band for fall! And what set you say.....Autumn splendor of course!! Another one of my favorite sets from Stampin' UP! Thanks for looking and remember stamp a little love this holiday season! By the way, this will probably be my last post til after Christmas, so I hope that your holidays are blessed and surrounded with family and friends!

Altered Candle holder

This year, on top of people's "regular" gifts, I tried to make a handmade creation. One such item is this candle holder. I made several belly bands to wrap around the clear candle holder. The one I am showing uses Stampin' UP's Autumn Splendor stamp set. I made a belly band for Halloween (using Wicked Cool---love that stamp set), a Christmas one using our snowflake dies for the big shot, and a summer and spring belly band. I hope that the recipient knows that this gift was stamped with a little love! Thanks for looking....

Christmas Day place cards

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....so placecards are being made! We host Christmas Day every year and I try to make our table look "special" with handmade placecards and embellishments. So, this year our theme with be winter/snowflakes. This placecard is super easy to make with the help of our wonderful Big Shot. The base of the placecard uses 2 of our top note die cut outs. I scored each note at 1-3/4" from one end, and then sticky stripped them together. I then made 2 snowflakes with our Stampin' Up big shot dies. One of the snowflakes has a basic rhinestone on it (they already have the adhesive so they are super easy to use). Then, I took a strip of real red (1" x 3") and ran it through our Big Shot with our large polka dot texturz plate! Added the name of the recipient and then of course added the best part of all---chocolate!!

Not only are these the perfect placecards, it gives everyone a little something special inside---some Ghiradelli chocolate squares. Thanks for looking and remember to stamp a little love this holiday season!

It's time to wrap them up!

 Well, hopefully by now your shopping is done (or close to it). So, now its time to wrap it all up! I always try to spruce up my presents with either a homemade tag, gift bag or gift card holder. Stampin' UP has some great mini lunch sacks in their mini catalog but today, I am using some plain white gift bags. I took some of Stampin' Ups great jumbo and standard rollers (Christmas Chatter is one of my favorite holiday ones) and rolled them on the entire white gift bag. Then I added a topper. All you do for a topper is used a 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock folded in half and punch out a notch for the handles of the bag to stick through. I used the large window punch for my notching and it worked out perfectly! The light bulbs were made with my oval punch and  3/4" square punch, added some silver cord and done! Thanks for looking and remember stamp some love this holiday season!

Altered Compostition Book

Every year, during the holidays my kids just love "giving" their teachers special presents. Well, the list now includes their music, art, gym, speech and librarian teachers! So, I try to make sure they all get a little something special that they can use. This year, the teachers will be getting an altered composition book and pen to match. The lady teachers got an added little bling to their monogram....I didn't think the male teachers would like it so theirs are bling free! Its a simple projects you simply add some of stampin' Up's wonderful designer series paper to a composition book, add a solid colored spine of your choice with a scalloped edge and you have a one of a kind notebook to tell that special teacher thank you!
I also added some of the same designer series paper to the inside barrel of the pen and added some coordinating ribbon. A perfect pair to show your kid's teachers that you care. Thanks for stopping by and remember to stamp a little love this holiday season!

Desk Organizer

One of the perks of being a Stampin' Up demonstrator is all the wonderful people I've met. This included a great group of ladies that are fellow demonstrators. Every year, for the holidays, we have a holiday party. We each make a "homemade" item place it in a plain brown bag and take turns picking a bag. This will be my fourth holiday party, and I've never been disappointed! The creativity that is seen that night is unbelievable. So, this year, as I was trying to think of a special item to make, this project came to me! I used a regular 8 x10 frame, and took the glass out. I adhered cork board on the left (directly to the backing of the frame) and embossed (with our fantastic Big Shot) some early espresso card stock on the right. I also added some thumb tacs (altered them with those super cute and easy scallop flowers). The final touch was the calendar, which can be changed out for next year's calendar. Now, I just hope one of my fellow stampers doesn't stop by my blog before Wednesday---or they'll know what's in my little brown bag. Thanks for looking and remember stamp some love this holiday season!

Plate with inserts

This is the perfect gift for the baker in your life (or to keep for yourself)! I bought a clear round plate...I believe it was a 9" plate. I then cut circle inserts that can be placed on the flat part of the plate. I made inserts for Halloween, memorial day/ 4th of July, Christmas, Easter and Valentines day. The inserts were decorated with Stampin' Ups wonderful designer series papers, ribbon, and stamps! Here's the trick to making sure the inserts stay intact year after year, cover them with lament after you've decorated them. The recipient is sure to use them month after month! Thanks for looking and remember to stamp some love this holiday season!

Shadow Box

I've seen so many beautiful shadow boxes---you can use them for pictures, memrobilia etc! I finally decided to attempt to make my first one. I will be making a few this holiday season for some special people. This one is for my mom and dad. I bought a 3 level shadow box added some Stampin' Up designer series paper to the background and incorporated soft suede and rose red (perfect colors to coordinate with the new home it will have after Christmas).  Made several handmade flowers using our scallop punch for the smaller ones and Stampin' Up's oval and oval scallop punch for the large one. Final touch....added some chunky glitter to some of the hearts and flowers (glitter always makes a project better). What a way to show someone you really care and share what you love---stamping and creating!

Simply Adorned Charm by Stampin Up

I can't believe it took me so long to buy these super cute Simply Adorned items from Stampin' Up! I just got the 1" x 1-1/4" charm and 24" chain during our special promotion. It came with the super cute Charming stamp set as well as the charm and chain (see my website at http://www.stampwithlora.stampinup.net/ for specifics on pricing). I am loving these items because I can change the inserts to match the outfit of the day! Its great when you can combine two of your loves: jewelry and stamping all in one and show your creative side in the process. This would be the perfect holiday gift for that special someone who has a unique or creative side.  Hope this inspired you to stamp some love into this holiday season!
Lora

Wooden calendars

Well, I started making my teachers' gifts and this will be one of them! Got a perpetual wooden calendar, and made cute little inserts for the seasons. So that way, they can change the inserts to match the season we are in. I've also included a memo pad that is hand stamped with Stampin' Up's Lovely Letters stamp set (with their initial).  I also added designer series paper from Stampin' Up to the calendar to add a special touch. Thanks for stopping by and remember to stamp a little love this holiday season!

Mug with Stampin' Up Rub ons

What a perfect way to remember a coffee or tea lover this holiday season.  I found these white mugs at my dollar store, added  some Stampin' Up rub-ons and sprayed them with acrylic coating so they didn't "wash" off. Added a gift card inside to a favorite coffee shop and voila....a super cute holiday gift that the recipient is sure to love!