Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Remember that great Halloween Ornament tree I posted last month that my customer Jen B created. Well, she's done it again with this perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece. She got the idea for it on last Friday's Today show. The Kraft paper wrapped around the candles is from brown paper bags. I'm thinkin you could do a Christmas centerpiece like this too - maybe blue and silver candles and spell PEACE, or red, green & white & spell JOY. She used the Building Block Alphabet for the letters. Love love love the acorn and burl (is that what you'd call them) touch on the bottom of the tray. I told Jen that I'm thinking she need to get a blog of her own!

Unlike most of you, we have a quiet day today. I celebrate Thanksgiving with my family tomorrow so my brother and his wife can go up to PA to celebrate with her family. So, today, we'll decorate the 10' tree Mike got last night, watch a family movie, maybe even play a game. And then tomorrow we'll head up to my folks house in MD for a huge turkey feast. Hope your day is filled with all of your favorite things!

Monogram Gift Tags/ Ornament using Pearlized Mist

Okay. So, I'm covered in Prisma Glitter and am feeling a little icky from spraying so much Pearlize paint, but I LOVE the way these letters came out. I pulled the biggest letter from each of my Dimensional Elements Monograms, set them on a cookie sheet, sprayed them with homemade Glimmer Mist - a mixture of Create-a-Shade Paint, Twilight Reinker and Rubbing Alcohol. Before they dried (which is really quick) I sprinkled Prisma Glitter over each of them. Then, I punched a hole on the top and added a piece of Colonial White Satin Edged Ribbon. Simple & elegant gift tag which can also be used as an ornament. I'm planning on selling them at my craft fairs next weekend. Next project, same idea with our Dimensional Elements Flurries!

Happy Thanksgiving to all. So grateful for all my blessing this year. Wow, what a year!

Still Time to Get Free CTMH Stamps

There is still plenty of time to get your FREE Close to My Heart Stamps.

Our awesome November Stampaganza Promotion of Buy Two Get One Free ends on Monday, November 30. Don't miss out on this opportunity to get started on a new fun hobby or build your sets of Solos, Alphabets or Word Puzzles. Ordering is easy...just go to fancymelissa.myctmh.com.

My favorite today - Snow Friends. Sure, there are a bunch of snowmen stamp sets out there, but I really don't think they get much cuter than the little guys on Snow Friends. I LOVE this set. Here are a couple of simple cards I've created.

Have fun shopping!

Holiday Gift Tag Album

As soon as I saw the Holiday Tag album that Susanna Boyd, Card of the Week, created, I knew I had to make one myself. Her tutorial is so easy to follow, and she's right. It's quicker to make the little album, than it is to make the tags. I'm thinking this could also be cute to put 8 different gift cards in (blockbuster, target, starbucks, etc.).

I've posted a couple more pictures below and at the bottom of the page you'll find the YouTube video with her tutorial.






I used the Jingle Level 2 Paper Pack & Stickease, Holiday Trinkets & Snow Flurries Stamp Sets, and Sparkles!




Video Created By Susanna Boyd (www.cardoftheweek.com)

Hot Cocoa & Gift Card Folder

The other day I was at Costco and I found this huge box of assorted premium hot cocoa packets and thought - "these will work some how for my craft fair". And I was thinking about packaging I wanted to pair them with a gift card. I am always trying to come up with clever gift card presentation. So, I came up with this folder.



If I were really good, I would have made a video like Nona or Tresa, but I am seriously short on time these days, so these pics are going to have to work for now. If you have questions, leave me a comment and I'll get back to you!

The outside of the folder is made of cardstock, 7"x8". Then score it at 3 3/4" and 4 1/4".


For the cocoa pocket, cut a 5"x 4" cardstock square. You are going to score at 1/2" & 1" on three sides, and I used a scalloped scissors on the top edge. Then you want to cut the tab at the bottom, and create flaps 1/2" flaps. (I hope this makes sense).

Decorate the front...as you wish. Set aside.

Create the gift card pocket from a 4 x 3 1/2 square. Score at 1/2" on three sides to create a 3" square and cut at angle on bottom. Deorate the front.

I used the Snow Flurries set to decorate the inside of the folder. Then I used the Power Bond tape from Tombow to get the pieces to really stick to the folder. It has to be super strong adhesive.


Decorate the front as you wish. You need to include a ribbon taped to the front and back to secure the folder.

Off to make a bunch more of these puppies. Let me know if you make one! Oh, and if you make it and I screwed up on the directions somewhere, please tell me so I can fix it. Thanks!