I have been having an absolute blast with this Kindest Gnomes bundle! When I saw this gnome garland at Dollar Tree, I knew exactly what I was going to do. So, with the help of three strands of garland and a small wreath frame ($5.00 plus tax), I knew exactly what I needed to create: a gnome wreath with two $10 gift cards from Amazon. Who doesn’t love Amazon?!?!
Making the Wreath:
Even if you’ve never made a wreath before, this one will come together in a snap. Truly. It’s easy. Trust me, please.
Here’s a picture of a small wreath, just for reference:
There were only two strands of the gnomes garland left, so I also picked up a red and silver garland. I used that one first, kind of like the base. I tied a very small knot with the end of the garland onto one of the middle circle bar. Then, I just wove the red/silver garland around the two middle circle bars.
Next, I tied the white gnome garland to an outside crossbar and the garland around the whole frame to start on the candy cane-ish look I wanted to achieve.
Then, I repeated the process with the red gnome garland, making sure I kept the candy cane look going.
I did just tie off all the ends of the garland. That’s it. The wreath was done. Now for the fun part – adding gnomes!
The Whimsical Woodland Tags:
I started with three pieces of white cardstock measuring 5-1/2 by 8-1/2 inches. Then, I ran it through my SU! Cut and Emboss machine using the Whimsical Woodland 3D embossing folder.
HINT: I found that if I placed the white cardstock into the folder so that I had about 4-1/4 inches inside, I could just emboss half, take out the cardstock and flip it around and emboss the other end.
After embossing, I cut down the white cardstock to the size I’d need for these gnomes. Your size tags will depend on which gnome you use.
The Kindest Gnomes:
I chose to make the whole gnome from die cuts so I didn’t have to color more than the nose and hands (this is a last minute gift after all). Also, I could more easily control the colors of the gnome’s clothes.
It’s just me, but I like these gnomes to have arms. First, I cropped all the bottoms and hat pieces I needed using the Real Red and Garden Green 6 x 6 inch DSP, Then, I trimmed the “arms” using the same DSP to 1/2 inch by 1-1/2 inches. Next time, I will use 5/8 inch though.
I used white cardstock for the beards and the button nose pieces, which I also used for the hands. Bless SU! for including two of these dies in the gnomes die set.
I used Gray Granite ink and a blending brush to color the beards. I really tapped off almost all the ink from the brush before I used it to color the beard.
The nose and hand pieces were quickly colored using the SU 1000 natural tone blend.
I used a fine end of a black marker to outline the hats and to highlight the ties in the feet.
I glued the gnomes together and then added dimensionals to the back of them.
Then, I adhered each of them to a tag.
Next, I created a smaller tag for the greeting at the bottom using the Framed and Festive sentiment stamp set. Since I didn’t plan ahead, I needed to use my Stamparatus to stamp the sentiment in Mossy Meadow.
HINT: I’ve found it much easier to keep my cardstock in place on the Stamparatus grid paper by using removable tape on the back in addition to the magnets on the front.
Assembly:
After punching a small hole at the top of the tag, I used some Real Red mini-ruffled ribbon to attach each tag to the wreath.
I did the same with the sentiment tag at the bottom.
The final touch was to tie two $10 Amazon gift cards to the wreath using metallic red pipe cleaners. I didn’t need to buy any pipe cleaners (I’m a teacher – I have them coming out of my ears in my classroom storage), but you can get these at Dollar Tree as well.
With that, my Last Minute White Elephant gift is done! Now I just have to find a box so I can wrap it up.
Back to the Pals’ Blog Hop:
More inspiration awaits, so use the lineup below to visit the rest of the Design Team. The Pals are excited to show you what they’ve created! Then, please mark your calendars for our next blog hop on January 11 when our theme will be Sale-A-Bration Time. The design team will showcase projects made from Sale-A-Bration items. (I already have the SAB Adorable Owls stamp set and can’t wait to use it!)
Welcome to the October SU! Demos Fun Fold Blog Hop! Those of us in the hop are current Stampin’ UP! demonstrators. However, everyone, no matter the supplies you use, is invited to play along with the recurring Creative Creases fun fold challenge! I hope to see you in the challenge gallery!
I love fun folds, and I thoroughly enjoy learning new ones! For this month’s hop, I CASe’d (Copy and Share everything) Mary Deatherage’s fun fold from September. You can find her card, which is a modified z-fold card, here.
Here’s the card I created for this month’s hop:
Measurements:
The Night of Navy base measures 5-1/2 by 8-1/2 inches, scored at 2-1/8 and 4-1/4 inches. Fold the front fold back.
The smaller Night of Navy base measures 7 by 4-5/8 inches, scored at 3-1/2 inches.
I needed two pieces of Balmy Blue cardstock. The larger one measures 5-1/4 by 3-1/2 inches. The smaller one measures 3-3/8 by 4-1/2 inches.
Since I chose to add a piece of DSP (designer series paper) under the smaller fold card, I needed a piece that measures 4 by 5-1/4 inches.
Next, I trimmed another piece to 2 by 5-1/4 inches for the inside panel.
The front DSP panel measures 3-3/8 by 5-1/8 inches. The DSP piece for the very front of the card measures 3-1/8 by 4-1/8 inches.
HINT: If you are using an obvious directional DSP pattern, double check to make sure it’s going the right way before you cut it. Trust me on this one.
Finally, I trimmed a piece of the DSP to 6 by 2-1/2 inches for the envelope flap. Then, I punched a 1-inch circle of Balmy Blue DSP for the envelope seal.
Time to stamp, color, and assemble!
Stamping and Coloring:
This gnome is my favorite one from the Kindest Gnomes bundle! I stamped him in Momento Tuxedo Black ink and waited for him to completely dry before I colored him.
I started with the light neutral skin tones blend for his hands and face.
Next, I used the Night of Navy combo blends for his pants and hat. After the blends dried, I added white dots to his hat using a gel pen.
His sleeves are colored with the Balmy Blue blends combo. Then, I used the Balmy Blue Stamping Write Marker to create the diagonal lines on his sleeves.
I colored his beard with the light Smoky Slate blend.
I used the light Basic Black blend for his shoes. Then I outlined the shoes and added the lines on the soles with the black marker. At the same time, I decided to just outline all the way around the outside of this cutie pie.
I finished him off by adding dimensionals to the back side of him.
Then, I turned my attention to the front sentiment, also from the Kindest Gnomes stamp set. I stamped it in VersaMark on Night of Navy cardstock and covered it with silver embossing powder.
After heat-setting the powder, I cropped it using the banner die from Stylish Shapes. I outlined the banner using my clear Wink of Stella glitter pen. I added dimensionals under the sentiment banner as well.
The inside sentiment is also stamped in Momento Tuxedo Black. It’s from the retired Whimsical Trees stamp set, but it’s one of my very favorite Christmas sentiments.
Assembly:
I used multipurpose liquid glue to adhere all the panel layers on the card.
Before I adhered the front cardstock/DSP layer to the Night of Navy smaller card base, I wrapped some metallic mesh ribbon around the front and tied it in a bow. Amazingly, this ribbon is quite easy to use and this bow was done on my first try. YEAH!
At this point, I decided the gnome needed some sort of additional thingie on which he could rest. Therefore, I cropped a piece of vellum using the outside frame from the Scary Cute Silhouette dies. Then, I fussy cut two trees from the DSP and adhered them to the vellum. These trees help hide the liquid glue used to adhere the vellum to the DSP.
Then, I added the gnome and the sentiment banner, and finished adhering all the cardstock and DSP pieces.
This modified z-fold card will stand up on it’s own, which makes the whole card just perfect, at least in my humble opinion.
With that, I’d finished this coordinated fun fold card, envelope, and envelope seal.
Back to the SU! Demos Fun Fold Blog Hop:
When you finish here, I hope you will hop along to the other demos’ sites. I know I am really looking forward to seeing what everyone else created. As soon as my card goes live, I am going to add it to the gallery for the Creative Creases Challenge. I can’t wait to see what you create and add to the challenge as well.
When new team members purchase their Starter Kit, they will be able to redeem $155 USD of Starter Kit eligible products for just $99 USD. That’s $56 of FREE product! Contact me for more details about joining my team!
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?
I did with the purchase of two of these NEW birthday organizer kits! I actually got my delivery with the two kits on Sunday (yes, it was delivered on Sunday)! YEAH!
Here’s an unboxing video explaining the kit contents:
I got one kit for my mom and one for my aunt, neither of whom get out as easily as they used to do. I’m in the process of making additional cards to include with this kit, that I will make for them before I give them as a present.
Again, thank you for stopping by today! Please take just another minute and leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
Welcome to InKing Royalty’s October Blog Hop! Boo! Today we are sharing scary and sweet projects perfect for Halloween. We are excited to share our creations and hope you love them! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.
I’ve already posted all kinds of cards using the Kindest Gnomes bundle, and I’m adding another one for this blog hop. Today, I combined a gnome with the Scary Cute bundle for my BOO! card. I created a simple z-fold card using both bundles.
Here’s my BOO! card:
Measurements:
The Gorgeous Grape base measures 4-1/4 inches by 11 inches, scored at 2-3/4 and 5-1/2 inches.
The two Old Olive panels measure 4-1/8 by 2-5/8 inches.
The Gingham Cottage Pumpkin Pie DSP (designer series paper) measures 5-1/4 by 4 inches, mainly because that’s all I had left of the paper.
The Scary Silhouettes die set was used for all the cropped pieces, except the gnome, of course.
I cropped the Gorgeous Grape and white cardstock using the Scary Silhouettes die.
The are three layers Basic Black frames adhered together with multipurpose liquid glue.
I placed dimensionals under the bats and the gnome since they would be placed on the open part of the z-fold card base.
Stamping, Cropping, and Coloring:
I used Old Olive ink and the trio of bats stamp and stamped them randomly on both Old Olive panels.
Next, I used a blending brush and Mango Melody ink on white cardstock to create the moon. After I punched it out using a 1-inch circle punch. In order to get it to fit in the corner under the frames, I used the open base die. Then, I adhered it under the frames.
I used the Momento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp both sentiments and the bats on the white cardstock.
My desire to save cardstock when possible gave me an idea for cropping the spooky house so it fits inside the frames. I found that after cropping the frames, I could place the house die at the bottom of the negative space from the frames. By sitting the house right up against the edge, the resulting cropped house will fit the frames perfectly.
I needed to make sure that I only adhered the left side of the the framed piece on the front. Then, I carefully placed the white cardstock under the framed piece on the front so the white wouldn’t show when I closed the card.
I used Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Smoky Slate blends combos. I created the lines on this cuties’ pants using my Old Olive marker.
Next, I used a Basic Black marker for the lantern and colored the “glass” using the clear Wink of Stella.
With that, I’d finished this adorable BOO! card.
Back to the InKing Royalty Blog Hop:
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Brian King at Stamp with Brian. There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it!
Thank you for hopping along with us. If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:
I did with the purchase of two of these NEW birthday organizer kits! I actually got my delivery with the two kits on Sunday (yes, it was delivered on Sunday)! YEAH!
Here’s an unboxing video explaining the kit contents:
I got one kit for my mom and one for my aunt, neither of whom get out as easily as they used to do. I’m in the process of making additional cards to include with this kit, that I will make for them before I give them as a present.
Again, thank you for stopping by today! Please take just another minute and leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
This is my second post for today. You can see the first one for my Cardz 4 Guyz #303 challenge here. I’ve created the same card using different colors for the Stampin’ Up! demonstrator Fun Fold Blog Hop. I’m all about non-traditional Christmas colors, and using shades of blue just makes me so happy!
When you finish here, I hope you will hop along with the rest of the demonstrator’s listed at the bottom of the page. I know I will! I’m excited to see what the rest of the team created!
Here’s my card for the Fun Fold Blog Hop:
Doesn’t this little guy on the front remind you of one of Snow White’s dwarfs? He’s adorable and my favorite from the Kindest Gnomes stamp set!
I found this fun fold on Connie Stewart’s YouTube channel. It’s so much fun, and so incredibly easy! It looks complicated, but truly it isn’t! You can find her video here. In all honesty, it took me longer to color the two gnomes or to create the stencil background than it did to trim all the pieces and put the fun fold together. Please give it a try! I’m pretty sure I will be using this fun fold many, many times!
Finishing Up:
The double stitched Balmy Blue and white ribbon can be a bit stiff right off the roll. I’ve found that running it through my fingers a bunch of times helps to loosen it up. I haven’t been able to tie it in a bow, but the square knot works for this card.
I placed dimensionals under the gnome and sentiment banner on the front.
Because of the thickness of the card, I didn’t want to add more dimensionals under the sentiment square. However, I did need to use something stronger than the liquid glue because of the ribbon. Therefore, I used tear-and-tape to mount the white square onto the Night of Navy square mat.
I used my favorite adhesive, the multipurpose liquid glue for everything else.
After punching a coordinating piece of DSP for the envelope seal, I’d finished this coordinated card, envelope, and envelope seal set.
Back to the Fun Fold Blog Hop:
Thanks so much for visiting my blog today. I hope you will use the following links as a guide to hop along with the rest of the demonstrators participating in this Fun Fold Hop! I just love fun folds and am looking forward to seeing what everyone else created! Amanda Howard with Papercrafting with Amanda is next up on the hop. Enjoy!
Precut pieces (No prep work! Get right to crafting). Including printed die-cut sheets: sticker adhesive sheets & non-adhesive sheets
Makes 12 cards of 1 design
Gold foil accents
Folded card size: 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ (14 x 10.8 cm)
12 preprinted envelopes
Enough adhesive to complete projects
Linen thread
A 9-7/8″ x 6-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ (25.1 x 16.5 x 7 cm) printed designer box for storage or crafting on the go
Product colors: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Evening Evergreen, Garden Green, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie
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Welcome to the latest Cardz 4 Guyz #303 biweekly challenge! Our hose this time, Melanie chose using a stencil to create a card. I used one of the Wonderful Snowflakes as my stencil, and am rather pleased with the result. When you finish here, I hope you will visit the challenge website to see the projects the rest of the design team created.
Here’s my card:
I found this fun fold on Connie Stewart’s YouTube channel. It’s so much fun, and so incredibly easy! It looks complicated, but truly it isn’t! You can find her video here.
Measurements:
The Cherry Cobbler base measures 5-1/4 by 11 inches. It’s scored at 1-3/4 and 3-1/2 inches from either end of the length of the base.
I also trimmed 3 pieces of Cherry Cobbler to 1-3/4 by 4 inches for the flaps.
The last piece of Cherry Cobbler I trimmed is for the mat on the front of the card. It measures 3 x 3 inches.
I needed two pieces of Basic White cardstock. The first is for the front and the final measurement (after using the embossing folder) is a 2-7/8 inch square. The second piece goes on the inside and measures 3-3/4 by 5 inches.
I used a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock on which I mounted the Cherry Cobbler base. The Sahara Sand measures 5-1/2 by 4-1/4 inches.
After I used the snowflake as a stencil, I trimmed the cardstock to 3-3/4 by 4-7/8 inches. From that piece, I trimmed it down to three equal pieces measuring 1-3/8 by 3-3/4 inches.
Finally, I trimmed a piece of Cherry Cobbler DSP to 6 inches by 2-1/2 inches for the envelope flap.
The Wonderful Snowflake as a Stencil:
I now have one very inked up snowflake after I used it as the stencil. I found out a couple of things as I was creating the background.
HINT 1: I found it much easier to use the snowflake when I figured out to use a small amount of removable tape on the back of the center of the snowflake. That way I didn’t have to work so hard to keep the snowflake lined up.
HINT 2: I used a blending brush with Sahara Sand ink on a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock. Since the snowflake is so fragile on the outward spokes, I found it much easier to use the blending brush in outward strokes from the center rather than in a circular motion.
When I finished stenciling the snowflakes, I splattered clear Wink of Stella over the cardstock. As usual, the Wink of Stella doesn’t show up well in photos, so I took a close-up of it:
The Kindest Gnomes:
I stamped the gnomes on white cardstock using Momento Tuxedo Black ink.
Then, I colored these cuties using the light and dark Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake blends combos.
I used the medium SU500 natural tone blend for the skin color and the dark Early Espresso blend for the shoes.
Finally, I used the light Smoky Slate blend for their beards.
The sentiment on the front comes from the Kindest Gnome stamp set. I stamped it in Cherry Cobbler ink then cropped it using a banner from the Stylish Shapes die set. Then, I outlined the banner using a Crumb Cake marker.
The last thing I did was add iridescent pearls randomly on the embossed snowflake square.
I really hope you try this fun fold! It truly is remarkably easy and people will think it took you forever. Honestly, it took longer to create the stenciled cardstock background than it did to create the whole rest of the card.
Welcome to Just Peachy Stamping by Sue Jackson: an independent Stampin' Up demonstrator.
Through Stampin' Up!, I happily share my love of papercrafting through sales, classes, small stamping group meet-ups and workshops. I think that being a teacher in my "real life", I have a unique approach to sharing my fantastic hobby. I look forward to connecting with you!
