TP Tube Wrap: Another Up-cycled Project and Challenge

Nothing is more annoying than going to the restroom to find an EMPTY roll of Toilet Paper in the holder.

“WHO do they think is going to replace this??” I grumble. “The TP Fairy? SHE DOESN’T EXIST!!”

Well when you see today’s wrapping project, you may imagine I’ve changed my attitude and now I’m like: “Hooray! Another craft project waiting for me!”. Okay, you could IMAGINE that, but it still annoys me that nobody else will change the paper. And when I got to work the other day, there was NO TP on the double rolls in either the men OR the women’s restroom and it bugged me. Big time. That’s just crap. Literally.

But let’s look on the bright side here: You can get back at them by using the empty rolls to create really cute gift containers!

In case you can’t figure this out, here are some simple instructions:

Cut a piece of Designer Series Paper 4.5″ x 6.5″ (I’ve used some from the Be of Good Cheer pack, 126896). Cover one side with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755) and roll it around your TP tube.

 Once the roll is covered, just push in one end like this:

Then the other side on the same end.

Now would be the time to put your gift into the open end of your tube. Chocolate and caramel fit nicely inside this little container. As does money. And diamonds. I guess I’m preaching to the choir since there aren’t many men who read my blog, I suspect. So make it to this point and demonstrate to the man in your life how to fill it and make some not-so-subtle suggestions.

Now all you need to do is decorate it and tie a ribbon around it to keep it closed:

You know, these are small and light enough you could decorate your tree with them!

So now it’s your turn. Share your TP Tube creations (SU! products always preferred) in the link tool below by December 13th at noon (MST) and I’ll choose a winner who will get this gift mailed to them filled with something fun!

document.write(”);

Getting into Shape for the Holidays

Jumping into the special creative challenge over at CCMC227 which is to make a shaped card…so taking my inspiration from a few other ideas, I turned the Grinch into an easel card and the saying says “Even the Naughty Deserve Something Nice”. Appropriate for a guy whose “brain is full of spiders and (has) garlic in his soul”, at least according to his theme song 🙂

Card Recipe (All from Stampin’ Up!): Big Shot, Top Note Die, Perfect Pennant Die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and Tags for Christmas stamp set. Card stock/Ink: Old Olive, Summer Starfruit, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Early Espresso. Punches: Scallop Square, Stamp, Scallop Border, 1″ and 1/2″ circle
Luckily for Mr. Grinch, he discovered that Christmas doesn’t come from a store: Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more! And they say that the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day!
Ahh…one of my favorite Christmas stories (that I can recite from memory) and even my adult kids will sit down to watch the video 🙂 What is your favorite children’s Christmas books? Share it in the comments below and I’ll send my Grinch card to one of you!

Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!

When I saw these frames on sale at Shopko last week, I knew I had to do SOMETHING with them, so I pulled out my Festival of Prints DSP (126901), some Glimmer paper (Silver~124005 & Red~121790), the Big Shot and a few dies (Typeset Alphabet~127553 & Snow Flurry~127813) and of course, some stamps and ink 🙂 
Once you’ve created your frame-able art, take a Stampin’ Spritzer (126185) filled with rubbing alcohol and a few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806), shake it up well and spritz glitter all over the finished project…even on the frame!

Even more fun was that I got to share this with my Seasonal Sensations Stamp Club who each made one of their own last week and they loved it too!

Gift of Reading

There is nothing better than a new book to give (or receive) at Christmastime! Aside from stamping, I’ve also worked in a bookstore may years (to support my OTHER happy habit) so as the holidays are coming up, I want to share a few of my favorite recommendations AND a coupon for your shopping pleasure 🙂

TO READ TO YOUR CHILDREN:

A beautifully illustrated story of a boy learning that to give is better than to receive (or keep), this book will become a treasured tradition for your family to read aloud for the holidays. You can also download the interactive App for your Ipad and while supplies last when you buy this at Deseret Book, you get a free CD of the book being read President Monson 🙂

BOOK MADE INTO A FAMILY MOVIE:
Christmas Oranges

A LESSON IN FORGIVENESS:

The true story of a man whose expectant wife and 2 of their 4 children were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk teenage driver. I wish I could give this to everyone I know: It made me think about how willing I am to follow God’s will for me, rather than insist that I know better than Him and about how forgiving truly frees us to live a life of purpose.

A BOOK TO COOK WITH:
My go-to blog in a book format! I love that they divide it into 4 seasons and another fav feature: The Roll-Over Ingredients, an index directing you to other recipes that use up ingredients when you bought more than you needed. Genius! Not to mention that my family has loved ANYTHING I have made from their first cookbook.

A FUTURE CLASSIC:

When we moved, I purged a lot of books, but this is one that I’ll be keeping because it beautifully defines what a glorious gift the ability to read truly is! It is based on the true story of Sang Ly who helps her husband collect trash on the largest municipal dump in Cambodia to keep their family alive. The reader journeys with Sang Ly as she discovers a secret about the grumpy old woman who collects her rent that will free both of them from the past. I read parts aloud to my husband and bawled out loud on the couch as I finished it. Click on the cover to see a video that tells you more! Seriously: Get this book now. One for you and one for your best friend.

There are many more I could recommend, but this post is getting too long as it is 🙂

So here’s the coupon (good through November 30) and hope it helps you get your shopping started:

Christmas Stamp Camp

Christmas Stamp Camp
Saturday, November 17th
1-4 p.m.

This adorable tote holds a chapstick and a candy “kiss”: A thoughtful gift for anyone planning to spend a lot of time under the mistletoe this holiday season! And it is one of the 4 clever and crafty gift and home decor projects you’ll create at my Christmas Stamp Camp next Saturday in Spanish Fork. I know you can’t see it in this picture, but it’s also covered in **sparkles** for the holidays! 

Here’s the deal: You’ll need to RSVP by WEDNESDAY to save your spot…and of course, stamping is always MERRIER when you bring a friend, so call your BFF and make it a girl’s day!

Cost: $20. Bring SNAIL and Sticky Strip adhesive (order refills when registering, if necessary) along with your scissors. All other supplies will be provided.

BONUS: My retired stamps and supplies will be available to shop from…all 25-75% off!

Tin Cans and Tasty Treats

 I had started this post a few weeks ago, but have been so busy at the bookstore I wasn’t able to post before now…but don’t fret! You can can gifts ANYTIME of the year 🙂 This is just a sample of one way to decorate a tin can that contains an unexpected surprise…and read the whole post for a tasty treat that you can make quickly to put inside if you don’t happen to have pearls or diamonds to put into the can (which happen to fit nicely, or gift cards, or other small gifts)
The easiest way to make these is to use a clean-edge can opener and open the bottom of the can, clean it out and take off the wrapper (so you can add your own). Once the can is dry, put your gift in and use a thin line of Crystal Effects (from Stampin’ Up! of course!) around the edge of the lid you removed and press down to re-seal can. Add a decorative cover and voila! A canned gift!
Interestingly, the gals over at Our Best Bites were sharing the same idea this week and if you want to just print off a label, click on the picture below for a link to their post and a free printable 🙂
Now ONE MORE TREAT for you…this is my favorite Christmas Candy, but be WARNED! It is EXTREMELY ADDICTING:
 Caramel Snowman Poop!
2 cups Butter
1 cup Honey
4 cups Sugar
1 cup Cream (I used whipping cream)
Combine all ingredients and cook, stirring frequently to soft ball stage. Pour over 2 large Tupperware bowls of popcorn, Chex or ~my favorite~ a large bag of puffed corn cereal (they sell it this time of year in a big bag at the grocery story, which reminds me to make some and then give it all away or else I would eat it all myself).

The Stockings Were Hung…

If you are stuffing your stockings for the Christmas Season, a MUST HAVE item is the new Holiday Stocking Die for the Big Shot (Item 120498, $32.95). Look at the adorable quilt (shown at Jill Olsen’s St. George stamp day in September) made with some of our exclusive fabric and the above mentioned die:
 

And the creative possibilities are endless with paper and fabric:

Jill even got creative and turned the stocking into a Witch Boot for this quilt (yes, I’m backtracking to Halloween for a moment…)

 But wait! There are more fun ideas! Check out this adorable Rudolph treat holder we made at our Holiday Stamp Camp! Just turn the stocking over and use the heel and toe for his ears (his antlers are created from the Snowflake Die and he is embossed with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder):
 It’s not too late to order for Christmas! Place an order on my website by December 14 for Christmas delivery!