Crazy for Christmas - Lil' Gifties

Today is Day Two of Reverse Confetti's CRAZY FOR CHRISTMAS showcase. Three days of Christmas inspiration brought to you by the Confetti Crew. Yesterday's focus was Reverse Confetti's popular TREAT TUBES. If you missed it, click HERE to catch up.

Today the team will be sharing ideas for LIL' GIFTIES (think teachers, bus drivers, neighbors, mail carriers, etc.). 

I've put together a gift idea for any coffee lovers in your life. Earlier in the year, I found a wonderful local small-business coffee roaster nearby, and this holiday season, I plan to introduce friends and family to some of my favorite beans!

I filled a frosted tin-tie bag with coffee beans, then decorated the gift with a sweet pair of felt mittens from the newly released Smitten Mittens Confetti Cuts die and a "you warm my heart" sentiment from the previously released S'more Love.

The mittens were die-cut from felt and topped with a felt snowflake cut with the Snowflake Trio Confetti Cuts. I used some Charcoal Striped Twine to embellish the mittens with tiny jingle bells. Behind the snowflakes, to add some color, I attached two Tall Tag Trio Confetti Cuts, one in Stone card stock and the other in a pattern from the Very Merry paper collection.

I clipped everything to the top of the bag with a red clothespin that I topped with another snowflake embellishment.

  

 

 

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  For lots more gift-giving inspiration, visit the following Confetti Crew members:

Reverse Confetti blog 

Amy Tsuruta
Amy Kolling
Laurie Schmidlin
Leigh Penner
Audrey Tokach
Lisa Henke
Susan Liles

Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey November Release in Review

It's Release Day at Papertrey Ink! All of the new goodies we've been sharing the past few days will be available tonight at 10pm ET. 

I have a few projects to share today, so let's get started!

First is a look at a pretty floral card that I put together using Nichole Heady's Better Together set, Erin Lincoln's Fill in the Blank set, and Big Basics: Wish Big (also by Nichole).

Fill in the Blank is stamped on the white background in Soft Stone ink, and I "filled" in the blank with a Smokey Shadow stamped sentiment that I die-cut with the corresponding die from the Fill in the Blank dies.

The Better Together floral image is heat embossed in white on vellum, then colored on the back side with Copic markers. I layered a Fillable Frames #11 in Smokey Shadow onto the floral, then added a strip that I cut from a Leaf & Sprig Frames die-cut, before adhering the Big Basics: Wish Big die-cut.

The card base and the white stitched panel were die-cut with the new Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical dies.

Stamps: Fill in the Blank, Better Together 

Dies: Better Together, Big Basics: Wish Big, Fillable Frames II, Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical, Leaf & Sprig Frames 

Ink: Smokey Shadow, Soft Stone, Versamark 

Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow, Tropical Teal, New Leaf, White card stock; vellum 

Other: white embossing powder, Copic markers, True Black baker's twine, sequins

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Next, I've paired Maile Belles's Splits: Happy Birthday and Lizzie's For You tag die-cuts. I first heat embossed Splits: Happy Birthday in white, then ink blended in green, turquoise, and purple. I cut the sentiment in half vertically and arranged both halves to be below the Keep It Simple: Birthday III sentiment strip.

The tag is made up of a black polka dot Basic Cut Tag, then a white For You tag layer. I accented with some Fancy Foliage Details die-cuts.

Stamps: Splits: Happy Birthday; Keep It Simple: Birthday III 

Dies: Splits: Happy Birthday, Tag Sale: Quilted, Fancy Foliage Details, Basic Cut Tag, For You Tag

Ink: True Black, Amethyst Allure, Green Parakeet, Tempting Turquoise, Versamark

Paper: white and Simply Chartreuse card stock; Bitty Dot True Black; Amethyst Allure + White Basics paper collection

Other: white embossing powder, ink blending tool and foam, True Black baker's twine, glittered enamel dots

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Here's my take on Betsy Veldman's What the Doodle: Piece of Cake. The white card base is sponged at the top and bottom in soft pastels, and the white scalloped panel is a portion of a Noted: Scalloped Square die-cut.

The What the Doodle: Piece of Cake images are heat embossed in white, then ink blended in soft pastels. 

For the sentiment strip, I stamped a Keep It Simple: Birthday III sentiment onto a Tag Sale: Quilted die-cut, then layered that over a Paper Clippings: Birthday Details banner die-cut.

Stamps: What the Doodle: Piece of Cake; Keep It Simple: Birthday III

Dies: What the Doodle: Piece of Cake, Noted: Scalloped Square, Tag Sale: Quilted, Paper Clippings: Birthday Details

 Ink: Lavender Moon, Lemon Tart, Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist, Versamark 

Paper: Fresh Snow linen card stock; Stamper's Select White card stock; Chicken Scratch paper collection 

Other: white embossing powder, ink blending tool and foam, white linen thread, Mister Huey white opaque mist

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For more November release inspiration, visit the Papertrey team:

Nichole Heady

Ashley Newell

Betsy Veldman

Danielle Flanders

Heather Nichols

Kay Miller

Laurie Willison

Lizzie Jones

Melissa Phillips

So glad you stopped by!

Invitation Inspiration

We've reached the last day of Papertrey Ink's November release countdown, and it's party time! Today we are featuring Invitation Basics, designed by Lexi Daly, numerous Big Basics word dies, designed by Nichole Heady, and the Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical die collection, designed by Betsy Veldman. The team has divvied up gender and age ranges, so you'll be seeing invitation ensembles from first birthday all the way up to adult. It's going to be fun -- so glad you're here!

All of the new products will be available at 10 pm ET on November 15 in the Papertrey Ink store.

My ensemble is for a male 40th surprise party. My go-to choices for masculine cards are bright gender-neutral colors, a simple design, minimal (or no) embellishments, and often Kraft card stock. 

Let's start with the card. It features the relevant info -- party, 40, and surprise -- in a clean, graphic way. The balloon, candles, and "shhh!" are all from Lexi's Invitation Basics. 

The word die-cut is the Big Basics: Surprise! die. The little tag on the balloon is from the Wrap It Up die set. I used By the Numbers dies for the 40, borrowed bits and pieces of Hooray sentiments to stamp the "it's a" flag, and grounded everything with a pair of stitched banner strips from Tag Sale: Quilted. And last, the card base was cut from Classic Kraft using the Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical die set. I usually think of scallops as a bit more feminine, but I think they're subtle enough on this card base that they still work.

Stamps: Invitation Basics, Hooray

Dies: Invitation Basics, Big Basics: Surprise!, Wrap It Up, By the Numbers, Tag Sale: Quilted, Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical

Ink: Fresh Snow, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening, Canyon Clay

Paper: Classic Kraft, White, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Enchanted Evening, Green Parakeet

Other: natural linen thread, navy blue enamel dots, metal clip

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I love to stamp matching envelopes, and should really remember to do it more often! 

Of course the big risk with a surprise party is that somebody will accidentally spill the beans, so for good measure, I stamped "shhh!" lightly across the whole front. The cake components are from Invitation Basics.

On the back flap, I added a row of candles and then stamped the adorable "don't blow it" sentiment. Too fun!

Stamps: Invitation Basics

Ink: Fresh Snow, Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Green Parakeet, Classic Kraft

Other: Kraft envelope

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And last is a cute tag that could be used on party favors. The cake and sentiment are both from Invitation Basics. The tag is made up of a Holiday Hugs stitched and scalloped circle on an Enclosed: Basic Folded Tag base.

Stamps: Invitation Basics

Dies: Invitation Basics, Holiday Hugs, Enclosed: Basic Folded Tag

Ink: Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Green Parakeet

Paper: Classic Kraft, Stamper's Select White

Other: natural linen thread

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For more invitation inspiration, visit the Papertrey team:

Nichole Heady

Ashley Newell

Betsy Veldman

Danielle Flanders

Heather Nichols

Kay Miller

Laurie Willison

Lizzie Jones

Melissa Phillips

Thanks for visiting!

Birthday Wrap Inspiration

Welcome to Day 4 of Papertrey Ink's November release countdown, and our second of three big group posts for this release. Today we are featuring Wrap It Up, designed by Nichole Heady, which is a fun and clever die set for making wrapped gift die-cut. Use these on cards, tags, and wraps for any gift-giving occasion. Also, if you fell in love with Lizzie Jones's Christmas Cuts tags last month you'll be thrilled this month's birthday (and other occasions) version called For You. 

All of the new products will be available at 10 pm ET on November 15 in the Papertrey Ink store.

My first project is a coordinating card and tag, both featuring Lizzie's For You collection. I started with the birthday candles For You die-cut in white, then layered another white Window Cut Tag on top. I know many of us are happy to see the Window Cut Tag! There's also a solid version of the tag shape coming out this month called Basic Cut Tag. This will be perfect if you want to add a backer layer behind the window (for shakers, for example). 

To my birthday candles tag, I added a large Tropical Teal star and the word die-cut Big Basics: Wish Big. Also, for the card base, I've used the new Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical die set. Love this one, too!

Dies: For You, Big Basics: Wish Big, Window Cut Tag, Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical, Simple Gift Bow

Ink: Limeade Ice

Paper: Woodgrain Basics patterned paper; Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, Tropical Teal, Limeade Ice, and Stamper's Select White card stock

Other: Raspberry Fizz baker's twine, white gel pen, Platinum Stickles

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The tag on the pint container was done in a similar way. The back layer is the For You tag with the word "happy." The top layer is the Window Cut Tag, which I've stamped with a For You birthday stamp. I added some die-cut stars as well as some star sequins to finish.

Around the band of the lid, I've used Erin's Simple Gift Bow dies from last month, and on the lid, I've picked up some design elements from the card -- the patterned paper and the Raspberry Fizz Big Basics: Wish Big die-cut.

Stamps: For You

Dies: For You, Big Basics: Wish Big, Window Cut Tag, Simple Gift Bow, Pint Size Wrap

Ink: Enchanted Evening

Paper: Woodgrain Basics patterned paper; Enchanted Evening, Raspberry Fizz, Tropical Teal, Limeade Ice, and Stamper's Select White card stock

Other: sequins

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And last is a fun and super quick party favor idea using the Wrap It Up dies.

All closed up

... Lift up the lid ...

Pull down on the box flap and your contents are inside.

The nice thing (other than cheap and easy)is you can adjust the depth for whatever item you're giving. For these peppermint patties, my wrap is 3 5/8" wide x 9 1/8 long. I scored at 3 1/2", 4", 7 1/2", and 8" then added the gift box die-cut and ribbon length to one end and the the ribbon, bow, and box top to the other. I also added the darling gift tag de-cuts.

Stamps: Good Times

Dies: Wrap It Up

Ink: Fresh Snow, True Black

Paper: Green Parakeet, Raspberry Fizz, Green Parakeet + White Basics patterned paper collection

Other: white crochet thread, repositionable glue dots

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For more inspiration, visit the Papertrey team:

Nichole Heady

Ashley Newell

Betsy Veldman

Danielle Flanders

Heather Nichols

Kay Miller

Laurie Willison

Lizzie Jones

Melissa Phillips

Thanks for visiting!

Beautiful Inspiration

Welcome to Day 3 of Papertrey Ink's November release countdown. Today is the first of three group posts for this release, and we are featuring a beautiful new floral set called Better Together, designed by Nichole Heady, the newest in the Inspired series, Inspired: Mercy, by Betsy Veldman, and a very pretty new frame die set called Leaf & Sprig Frames, also designed by Nichole.

All of the new products will be available at 10 pm ET on November 15 in the Papertrey Ink store.

For my first project, I heat embossed the main floral image in white and watercolored  it in a loose, free, messy style. I die-cut the watercolored image using the largest rectangle die from the Double Ups: Rectangles die set to give it that stitched edge, then mounted it with foam adhesive to a slightly larger card base of Soft Stone. The sentiment is stamped onto a banner that I die-cut using one of the Paper Clippings: Joy to the World Details dies and sponged with Americana and Autumn Rose inks.

Stamps: Better Together

Dies: Double Ups: Rectangles, Paper Clippings: Joy to the World Details

Ink: Versamark; Americana and Autumn Rose

Paper: Strathmore watercolor paper; Stamper's Select White and Soft Stone card stock

Other: Sakura Koi watercolors, foam adhesive

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My next project shows how fantastic Better Together looks with no coloring. I especially love the main image stamped in white. 

 

Here, I've die-cut some card bases using the Noted: Scalloped Square die, stamped the image twice in white, then added a sentiment strip (stamped on Tag Sale: Quilted die-cuts). Quick, easy, and stylish!

Better Together includes a "handmade with love" image for the back of your cards, too - love that!

Stamps: Better Together

Dies: Noted: Scalloped Square, Tag Sale: Quilted

Ink: Fresh Snow, Dark Indigo, Stormy Sea

Paper: Dark Indigo, Stormy Sea, Aqua Mist, and Stamper's Select White; linen vellum

Other: white embossing powder, white linen thread, clear sequins

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And last we have a card using the smaller, individual images from Better Together. Lots of color, but no actual coloring :)

I heat embossed the images in white and then used sponge daubers to add a range of different colors to the die-cuts. The sentiment is from Betsy Veldman's Inspired: Mercy stamp set. The Inspired: Mercy die-cut has been sponged in shades of blue-green for an ombre effect. In the background are two Leaf & Sprig Frames die-cuts, both lightly sponged with Aqua Mist ink. This is a fun die -- the frames are nested as one die, so only one pass through your die-cutting machine gives you five different Leaf & Sprig Frames.

Stamps: Better Together, Inspired: Mercy

Dies: Better Together, Inspired: Mercy, Leaf & Sprig Frames

Ink: Versamark; Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay, Autumn Rose, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal, Enchanted Evening, Lavender Moon, Plum Pudding, New Leaf, Simply Chartreuse, Limeade Ice, Aqua Mist

Other: white embossing powder, ink blending tool and foam, sponge daubers, white satin sequins

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For more Better Together, Inspired: Mercy, and Leaf & Sprig Frames inspiration, visit the Papertrey team:

Nichole Heady

Ashley Newell

Betsy Veldman

Danielle Flanders

Heather Nichols

Kay Miller

Laurie Willison

Lizzie Jones

Melissa Phillips

Thanks for visiting!