Gift you can make #7: Mason jar chandelier or centerpiece

 

A canning rack, six quart-sized Mason jars, a string of lights and you're good to go for making a unique centerpiece, or, add a chain like in the photo above, and you have a chandelier! My bestie, Kim, frosted the jars and added snowflakes and tons of SU! rhinestones that sparkle and shine when this is plugged in (sorry, no photo of that yet!). I'm going to be using this as a centerpiece on my table for our Christmas dinner.

 

 

My best bud, Kim! It's funny that we ended up with each other's handmade gifts at our holiday party.

 

So there you go - some of my American Ink team members and I have given you seven ideas for gifts you can make your friends and family this year (or next). There's still time to make them before Christmas! Hope you enjoy your Sunday. The kids and I are baking and decorating sugar cookies today. Fun stuff!

Gift you can make #6: A snowflake and burlap wreath

 

Burlap goes with anything, it seems. Above, my friend and fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Heather, holds a burlap wreath with Festive Flurry snowflakes that Barb made. Barb even included an additional ornament she made using the big rosette die for the Big Shot.

 

I'm looking forward to making Christmas sugar cookies and other baked goodies with my family today. I hope you enjoy your Sunday!

Gift idea you can make #5: Fabric organizer

 

We all have items that accumulate and start taking over craft areas, countertops, etc., so why not make a fabric organizer you can throw in the wash when it gets dusty or dirty? My friend and downline, Frankie, went home with three such organizers that Bonnie made. And guess what? There's fabric on Stampin' Up!'s Clearance Rack! So you can get good fabric at a low price to make your own organizer.

 

 





This is Bonnie. She chose Mary Ann's sparkly earrings and necklace.

Gift idea you can make #4: Ornaments

 

Ornaments make everything more fun and festive! My friend and downline, Cindy, is holding up the ornaments Heather made for our gift exchange recently. The left one is from the Festive Flurries Ornament Kit (they're still available), and the second is made using strips of Stampin' Up! designer paper, curled with a bone folder!

 

 

Gift idea you can make #3: Snowflake shadow box

 

My friend and downline, Barb, is holding the gift she ended up with at our team party - Cindy's snowflake shadow box.

 



This is a better photo of the shadow box. It has lots of sparkly detail! The shadow box may be purchased at a craft store, then it's all Stampin' Up! ribbon, stamps, paper, and framelits.

Gift idea you can make #2: Paper magnet star

 

My American Ink team member and friend, Mary Ann, was happy to get this star created by Frankie from our annual Christmas party gift exchange Saturday. Each half of a star point is covered with Stampin' Up! designer paper and magnet sheet, so they're removable (or you could make points for each season!). The metal star was purchased at a craft store. What a great holiday decoration!

Gift idea you can make #1: Sparkly snowflake earrings

 

What a great pair of holiday earrings! They are so sparkly and radiant - who'd guess they were made using some Stampin' Up! embellishments? I love them. This is what I made for the gift exchange at my American Ink group's annual Christmas party that was on Saturday. I even made myself an extra pair.
And Mary Ann made a pair of earrings AND a necklace! Fun!!!

 

Frosted Finishes Embellishments (12 pieces): Item 132150, $6.95

 

You may order these thru January 2, 2014, via my Online Store at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net. Use this hostess code - 3XTCDNG6 - and you'll be entered into my January 1 drawing for free Stampin' Up! product of your choosing.

Need a great gift idea? Here's a card holder tutorial

 

We all need inexpensive gift ideas for friends, family and those "extra" people in our lives, like neighbors, co-workers, teachers, mail carriers, etc. This card holder with a gift bow is the perfect gift. You can customize it for each person on your list. It easily holds 6 cards and envelopes.

 

First, the template:

 

1. Take a piece of 8-1/2" x 11" card stock and score the lines.

 

2. Now make your cuts. I folded tabs so you can see where I cut.

 

3. Use a bone folder to get crisp folds on your score lines.









4. Work one side at a time, tucking tabs under sides and applying adhesive (I suggest mini glue dots or sticky strip - SNAIL isn't strong enough).

 

5. Apply more adhesive to keep top and bottom of card holder in place.

 





6. Here's the finished box. From here you can further embellish.

I die-cut pieces of designer paper and complimentary card stock for a bow using the Gift Bow die and the Big Shot.

 

Use a bone folder to curl the patterned pieces and adhere ends with glue dots, then use another glue dot to adhere the curls together. Use more glue dots to add a brown "whale tail" under each side of the bow. Then adhere a cute embellishment in the middle of the bow. Ta da!

 

I've been invited to the holiday bazaar at a local assisted living care place this Thursday for the third year in a row. It's my favorite event because 1) It's free!; 2) Each vendor gets a little gift bag; 3) The staff gives you free food and drink; and 4) Everyone is so incredibly nice! This year I'm bringing a bunch of cards as a raffle gift since the staff is putting together an Alzheimers fund-raiser. I'll be putting together some of these filled card holders to sell too.