Merry Christmas to you all, my lovely blog readers! After a welcome few days break hosting Christmas for my family, today I'm back to the blog! I have a couple of pre-Christmas makes to share still; do you ever find yourself so busy crafting in the run up to the big day that you spend more time 'in the moment' rather than recording it and sharing? Well, this year that was definitely me! Today I am being treated to a day of rest - my seven year old has declared that he is doing the cooking today, from his new boy's cookbook (doing well so far - fresh fruit and pancakes for breakfast, followed by shepherd's pie for lunch) - so whilst he prepares a feast of chicken dippers for tea, I thought I would take the opportunity to get back into my blog. 

Today's share is some lovely gift packaging made with the Gift Box Punch Board, Envelope Punch Board and the Big Shot and Banner Framelits. I decorated some gifts using boxes made with the gorgeous Under the Tree speciality DSP and the Gift Box Punch board and some easy die cut tags to co-ordinate:

If your gift fits the standard boxes that the Gift Box Punch Board makes, it is a quick and easy 'no glue' packaging solution. With some ribbon and a fancy tag they really look the part:

I also made some bottle tags using the Banner framelits and a circle punch, again decorating with some simple wreaths cut with the Wonderful Wreath framelits - here's a close up:

As my regular readers will know, I am a big fan of the Envelope Punch Board and it is still my tool of choice for creating custom boxes - this is so easy to do with my BoxBuster tool - it enables you to create the perfect box size first time with no paper wastage. Here's one I made for my niece's Christmas gift that is the perfect case in point, this time finished with a tag made with the tree punch to co-ordinate with the Under The Tree paper:

If you are a fan of creating easy, attractive gift packaging, you will be pleased to know that the Gift Box Punch Board is carrying over and will still be available when the current Autumn-Winter seasonal catalogue ends. The Envelope Punch Board is always available as a standard annual catalogue item - phew, I don't know what I'd do if this tool was ever discontinued!

Back tomorrow with another of my pre-Christmas makes and a special announcement, so check back then for more crafting lovliness!

Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Under The Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper	Gift Box Punch Board	Envelope Punch Board	Banners Framelits Dies	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch
Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies	Tree Punch	Gold Glimmer Paper
Red Glimmer Paper	Real Red A4 Card Stock

A nice early post from me this morning as I'm trying desperately to be organised this week as I have the busiest week ahead! It is the last week of the school term before the James Juniors break up for Christmas, so we have a week of pantomimes, parties and performances to look forward to. Not to mention a marathon baking session to ensure there are tasty treats for teachers gifts by the end of the week!

Today's card uses the sketch layout over at The Deconstructed Sketch and this week's colour palette over at Pals Paper Arts:

I'm still making Christmas cards and today's square card features a combination of old and new product. Here is my card:

I love those Under the Tree kraft DSP papers and this red Christmas tree pattern is one of my favourites. I matted a piece of it on a square of Baked Brown Sugar and a mat of Very Vanilla. I embossed a piece of Baked Brown Sugar with the On Point embossing folder for some added texture then added a piece of ribbon for the vertical strip. I used the retired 'deck the halls' stamp for my sentiment as I wanted something nice and square, coloured with my Stampin' Write markers and matted on a piece of Cherry Cobbler and another piece of Very Vanilla. I used a piece of Baked Brown Sugar thick baker's twine for the bow. I used the Christmas tree from the Project Life December Wonder stamp set in place of my tab, and also moved it to the other side in relation to the sketch layout. A tab as well as the tree didn't look right, nor did a tab without it or putting the tree on the left. So I switched it - crafter's prerogative!

Hope you like today's card - this is a colour combination I can see myself using again before Christmas comes!

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Project Life December Wonder Photopolymer Stamp Set	Under The Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper	Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon	On Point Textured Impressions Embossing Folders	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock
Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Baked Brown Sugar	Baked Brown Sugar Thick Baker's Twine	2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Cherry Cobbler Stampin Write Marker

A quick post from me with today's card which is for this week's Merry Monday and Freshly Made Sketches challenges:

Snowflakes, naturals and dry embossing - and here is my card:

When I saw the challenge over at Merry Monday, I knew immediately that I was going to use the lovely Early Espresso/kraft paper in the DSP Under The Tree Speciality DSP pack; I teamed it with the Mingle All the Way stamp, stamped in Early Espresso on kraft, which also has little snowflakes on it and punched this out using a 2" circle punch and layered it using a couple of additional circles. I used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder for my embossed panel and had to finish with one of the little wooden snowflake embellishments from the Merry Many Stars kit - I love these and with I could buy them just one their own, I could find so many uses for them!!

I usually find monochromatic colour schemes so tricky, but this card came together so well and I love the natural look that this card has.

That's me for today; back tomorrow with my Design team card for The Paper Players; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Mingle All The Way Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Big Shot Magnetic Platform
Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Under The Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper	Early Espresso A4 Card Stock	2" Circle Punch
2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad	Many Merry Stars Simply Created Kit