Gifts and A Christmas Tree!

I remember growing up to a family (and extended family) that loves Christmas season. Christmas used to be my most favourite time of the year as I associated it with gifts, seeing loved ones... It was a very happy season. It is still a very happy season until now. Nothing has changed. I still enjoy the gift giving part. The food. The music. The putting up of the Christmas Tree. I still love Christmas. I still enjoy putting up our tree, wrapping gifts. But some things have changed. I am not that excited for Christmas anymore because it only comes once a year. I treat Christmas as a normal month. 

Why? Because I now think that everyday should be as special as Christmas. 

Everyday I should enjoy cooking and enjoying home cooked meals. Everyday, I should take time to laugh (or cry if we need to) with friends. Everyday, we should be celebrating life with our loved ones.  Everyday we should be giving gifts! 

And by gifts, I mean gifts that will last. A hug. A smile. A happy thought. 

These thoughts inspired me to do something special with our tree this year. It is full of "gifts" that's meant to be given to anyone who comes to our house this Christmas. If they are nice, they will get something else too! hahaha :) 

What makes these gifts special? It's the surprise message inside that I pray, will stay with you for the rest of the year! :) 

Let me share with you the process.. 

I started with my dear Sizzix, a paper pad from Pebbles and the newest die I have, a Notepad Cover Die by Brenda Walton. This is a notepad cover but I want to use it for something else. Yes you can do that with your Sizzix dies! :)

So I cut papers according to the shape's size (a system I have gotten used to when I know I would "mass produce"). Loving the reds greens! I can imagine these pretty patterns on our tree!

Then cut the shapes with my ever efficient, ever trusty Bigshot Machine. You can see the "sandwich" I made: cutting plate + die + paper + crease pad.

There. The shapes are cut. And scored. Because the die is so awesome, it will also score the shape so that all you need to do is just... 

FOLD! 

So after all the shapes are cut, folded... I began to write Christmas wishes with my calligraphy pen. 

Then I searched for that bag with all the red ribbons I have collected over the years :D

If you come and visit us on Christmas eve, you will get one! Let me know :) 

Supplies: 

Notepad Cover Die by Brenda Walton

Bigshot Machine

Cutting Plates

Crease Pad

ribbons

paper - Pebbles

Making Spirits Bright Card | Sizzix

It's Christmas very soon! Yay! I made this Christmas card using  this Sizzix Snowflakes #3 die.

I wanted to design a simple card so I can mass produce it for my gift giving. What better way to do that than the Sizzix way!

I cut a gold cardstock as shown in the photo above. A die and a glitter gardstock on top, to be sandwiched with the cutting pads. 

This is how the gold snoflakes look like. Beautiful isn't it? :) 

For the sentiment, I stamped and embossed with white embossing powder on a kraft paper. 

I added am embossed background using Dots #6 embossing folder, inked the edges with Old Paper distress ink and added rhinestones and a button. 

 Quick and very easy!

Supplies: 
Sizzix Bigshot
Sizzix Snowflakes #3 die
Sizzix Dots #6 embossing folder 
cardstock - American Crafts
rhinestones - Prima
ink - Distress Ink, Ranger
embossing powder - American Crafts

i am so excited

It's Christmas again soon!!! Have you made your cards yet? If not, you can start now or better yet, you can buy from me! LOL! More of my cards here. Thank a million for visiting :) 

Made these cuties using Simple Stories. 

Thoughtful Crafts Monday!

Some Graphic 45 goodies just for you! Visit this site for details. Happy new week to all! :)

XOXO! :)

3 projects using 1 paper pad

This week, I challenged myself to make 3 different projects using just 1 6x6 paper pad from Echo Park... 

Project #1: Receipt Holder Home Decor 

To make this, I cut 12 pcs. 2x3 papers and randomly added some stuff from my stash... played around the lovely papers using dies, punches. Very Easy! :)

Project #2: Christmas Tree - Mini Album

This tree is actually a mini album measuring less than a foot! It's toooo cute right? First, I punched the papers, and sew them into paper ruffles... adhered the ruffles to the tree album...

... then I prepared all the elements I wanted to put together: tiny frames with my kids handsome photos in it, the paper christmas lights, the flowers, the stars, the tiny presents... all of them are extremely tiny and cute!!! :) 

... presenting, our humble little Christmas tree! The little presents are actually matchboxes wrapped with Season's Greetings paper :) 

Project #3: Christmas Cards

I hope you enjoyed my budget-friendly creations! :) 

Jesus... You are the Reason!

I hope and pray that the joy I have right now is also in the heart of God's each and every creation. Happiness beyond compare.

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!

 This special belen was handmade by my father.

P.S. I have my December Daily happenings in my journal, I hope, I can update my blog one of these days :)

before i forget...

i feel i need to post these photos ... i cant wait for 2010 Christmas!