Christmas Sleigh Favor Boxes

Hello Crafty Friends!! 

Can you believe Christmas is here already?!! How crazy is that? Where did the time go? I could have sworn it was just Halloween!

Anyway, today I'm back with DCWV to share these adorable Christmas Sleigh favor boxes with you all. If you regularly follow me, you may remember me mentioning that each year the women on my husband's side of the family gift each other handmade gifts on Christmas day. I originally was going to make everyone these amazing tea cups I made in a previous post HERE.

But, I saw this darling sleigh and needed to have it!! What a great occasion to break it in. These favors definitely give a "WOW" factor!

For such an awesome project I needed to some of my favorite stacks...

Christmas Plaid

Christmas Cranberry

and also...

Embossed Foil Stack (DCWV)

Other Supplies

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Brenda Walton's Sleigh Favor Box (Sizzix)

 Creative Station Lite (Xyron)

Chipboard

Red & White Bakers Twine

Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Glitter Enamel Dots

Holly Leaves (Prima Marketing)

Cellophane Bags

 I started by first trimming down my material down to a die-cuttable size. This is a sizzix L die so I like to cut my material down to 5.5" x 8.25". This way I can get two sets of cuts with one 8.5"x11" piece of paper. 

I love how lots of the DCWV stacks complement and coordinate with each other... for my sleigh I used a combination of gorgeous papers from both the Christmas Plaid and the Cranberry Christmas stacks and for a little added shine, also used the Embossed Foil stack as well.

I layered the paper (print side down) then chipboard onto my die and run it through my die-cut machine all together.

I needed 2 sets of cuts... but I needed my second set to mirror my first. To get the mirrored cut I simply flip my paper over to the other side.

For quick and easy adhesive I ran my die cut pieces through my Xyron Creative Station.

Then applied them to their coordinating chipboard pieces. Remember to flip over one of the chipboard sleighs to get the "mirrored" cut.

To assemble the carriage of the sleigh, I used a clear liquid adhesive. Hot glue also will work for this step. Just make sure the glue is super hot, otherwise it may cool too fast to adhere properly. 

I also die cut this panel out of more patterned paper to cover the inside and back and front panel of the carriage. I cut the piece into separate segments, using the crease marks as guides.

Then ran those pieces through my adhesive machine and adhered to the carriage.

This die also came with a flower die cut as well... I opted for a two layered flower with contrasting pattern to make them pop. Then added an enamel dot for the center and 2 holly leaves.

I filled each sleigh with delicious Ghirardelli peppermint bark. I can fit 4 squares it to this box easily. I placed each in a cellophane bag and tied them close with bakers twine.

These were so worth a little extra time to create. I know the family will absolutely love them!

Mixing and matching several patterns made all the sleighs unique and one of a kind. There are no identical sleighs!

 I hope everyone enjoyed this project and has 

a very Merry Christmas!!

~ Mitsy

Bird Crazy Tag Card - Christmas Edition

Happy Hump Day Crafty Friends!! 

Oh my gosh...  It's only about 2-1/2 weeks till Christmas!! Where is the time going??

Today, I have a Christmas card that was inspired by Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas series. I just love his tags and I was so over the moon excited when I heard Team Xyron would be collaborating with him... Eeeeek!! How exciting!! I've always wanted to make a T.H. tag... I'm so glad I finally took the dive and made one!!

Supplies Used

Tim Holtz-Alterations- Bird Talk (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz - Crazy Things (Stampers Anonymous)

Tim Holtz - The Journey (Stampers Anonymous)

Tim Holtz Stamp Stencil - THMM104 (Stampers Anonymous)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks- Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Distress Markers- Mermaid Lagoon, Carved Pumpkin (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Distress Stains- Abandoned Coral, Bundled Sage (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Paper Stash- Collage (Advantus)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Paper String - Stripes (Advantus)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Small Talk - Occasions (Advantus)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

3" Sticker Maker (Xyron)

VersaFine- Onyx Black (Imagine Crafts / Tsukineko)

Classy Reds Cardstock (Core'dinations)

Manilla Tag

Regal Velvet Poinsettias (Petaloo)

Craft foam Burlap

Red Button

 I started by stamping my image, from the Bird Talk stamp set by Sizzix, with an archival black ink. Then traced around my image using Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Mermaid Lagoon (for the body) and Carved Pumpkin (for the beak). I then used a waterbrush to blend out the colors.

I used the coordinating dies to die-cut out the little bird. (these were included in this set).

 I don't have many marker colors, so I improvised by using Distress Stains. I dabbed some color onto an acrylic block to use it as my palette. I used Bundled Sage (for majority of the gift) and Abandoned Coral (for the bow). I also used the Abandoned Coral for the Santa hat.

Then with a water brush I picked up some color and traced around the areas I wanted to color. Then with more water blended that color out.

I didn't have the matching dies for this stamp set so I just fussy cut out both images.

 With a manilla tag, I used a mini blending tool and Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick, Mowed Lawn, and Salty Ocean to create a multicolored background.

 Using Tea Dye Distress Ink, I stenciled alphabets randomly onto my tag. 

Then, I used Vintage Photo and stenciled the harlequin design.

I, then, inked all around the edges of the tag with Walnut Stain.

Using more walnut stain, I used the ticket, clock, and conductors receipt to add another layer to my background. 

Then gave it a quick spritz of water. This part is totally optional. I just like the lightly splattered look onto my background. 

To add all the elements to my card and give it added dimension, I made my own foam adhesive.

I cut a 2"x 4" piece f craft foam and ran it through my 3" Sticker maker. Then trimmed it, flipped it over, and ran it through again.

Then, cut it down to the sizes I needed (making sure to keep the protective backings on while cutting).

I added foam to the back sides of the bird, gift, and Santa hat... as well as the back of my poinsettia.

 I also used my 3" Sticker Maker to add adhesive to the backs of holly leaves.

And attached them onto my tag.

Then added my colored images and flower.

 I used the "wishing you a very merry christmas" sentiment from the Small Talk Occasions book and trimmed it down to fit onto my tag.

I just love this book!! There are terrific sentiments for every occasion in here!!

I topped my tag off by adding a multi-looped  bow made of red and white paper string. I absolute am nuts over this stuff!! I really think this stuff is better than twine! It doesn't fray and because of it's stiffness it's easy to thread through holes!! This is some really awesome stuff!

Now onto the card base...

 I found this newspaper/ book Tim Holtz print paper and trimmed it down to 4"x 5.25" and inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

Then, used my Xyron Mega Runner to add adhesive to the back.

Next, I added more paper string. Wrapped a couple times horizontally and vertically and tucked the ends around back.

 For even more layers and to add texture, I ran a 2"x3" piece of burlap through my Sticker Maker. Peeled it and adhered it to my card mat, which I also attached to a 4-1/4"x 5.5" (A2 ) sized card.

Lastly, with the leftover foam adhesive i made earlier, I attached it to the back of my tag and adhered it to my card front.

And here is a close up of my finished card...

I hope you enjoyed this project for today!!

Here's "wishing you a very merry christmas"!!

~Mitsy

My Preppy Train Case

Hello Crafty Friends... Today is the last day of the DCWV and Eileen Hull Winter Wonderland Blog Hop!!

And I have this adorable Preppy Train Case for you today...

I absolutely LOVE this plaid paper by DCWV!! It kind of reminds me of my private school days. Back when I had to wear pleated plaid skirts and white button up collared shirts. I used to just  hate it!

But as I grew up, the plaid grew on me... I must've forgotten about how much I disliked it because I ended up wearing tons of pleated plaid skirts in my early twenties. Let it be known that these were more fashionable and didn't extend pass my knees though. And in a random turn of events,  I recently stumbled across in my closet. LOL... Hey, I was going through a very Britney Spears phase in my life. I think if you grew up in the 90's you may have too. **Side note** Man, I wish I could still fit those! Hahahaha!!

Aaaannnd, moving on...

So, my private school flashback is what inspired me to make this...

My little Preppy Train Case.

Supplies Used

Christmas Plaid Stack (DCWV)

Cranberry Christmas (DCWV)

Eileen Hull Designs' Train Case Die (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Twist and Style Tool (Sizzix)

Creative Station Lite (Xyron)

Black Chipboard (Grafix)

Poinsettia- Jen Long Pillow Box & Poinsettias (Sizzix)

Black Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Rhinestone Ribbon Sliders

Rattail Cord

Eyelets

Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Gold Flatback Pearl

I started by cutting down my chipboard to workable 6"x 12" pieces. I repeated that step with the red plaid patterned paper (from the Christmas Plaid Stack).

Then I die cut both using Eileen Hull's Train Case Die... Only die cutting the main box pieces.  I layered the paper onto the chipboard and ran both through at the same time.

The die cut separated the paper into segments but the ends were still attached... this is exactly how I wanted it. 

I ran those pieces through my Xyron Creative station (still barely together). When adhesive is added to the backs it come out in the proper order so I don't have to guess what piece goes where... that way when I peel and stick them onto the coordinate chipboard pieces the pattern will flow seamlessly.

As you can see in the picture above, the pattern is uniform. 

I did not adhere the "flap" pieces. There was no need to since those pieces will be covered.

Next, I added clear glue to the flaps (you can also use hot glue). I like using wet glue because it gives me time to wiggle it into the place I want it. Once positioned in place I use mini clothespins to hold it in place till the glue dries.

While that was setting, I went back and die cut the front latch and the handle of the box from the remainder of the  black chipboard. Only the chipboard, patterned paper wasn't necessary because these pieces were going to remain solid black. 

I die cut poinsettias from this cream and gold pattern paper (from the Cranberry Christmas Stack). I ended up not using the red flowers in the picture. then added a gold flatback pearl to the center. 

Then I die cut leaves from green patterned paper (from the Christmas Plaid Stack) and glued them under the poinsettia.

I made my own tassels from rattail cord using Eileen's Twist and Style Tool. I knotted both ends after twisting, trimmed the ends, then frayed them to separate the fibers for the tassels.

Instead of adding latches to the traincase I used ribbon to hinge my box. I lined up the sides of my box to make sure everything was aligned, and wrapped two 15-1/2" of double stitched grosgrain ribbon (one for each side). Then, glued down with more clear glue.

I slid on rhinestone sliders onto the over hanging ribbon and attached magnet discs. Now my ribbons straps are magnetic closures.

I centered the front latch and handle and adhered them with more clear glue.

Lastly, I added my handmade tassel and poinsettia flower onto the train case handle

This box is just too posh! 

AND

I LOVE IT!!

I hope you enjoyed today's project and the end of our blog hop!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

~Mitsy