Christmas Hop with DCWV and The Ribbon Resource

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I'm so excited to be hopping along this week with The Ribbon Resource and DCWV.  I love my DCWV papers!  I have quite a few collections and the DCWV brand is one of my favorites, mainly because the papers are so thick and easy to work with.  Of course, The Ribbon Resource is the online retail store for May Arts Ribbon.  Be sure you hop all week long as there will be 3 prize packs given away which include stacks of DCWV paper and ribbon from the Ribbon Resource in each prize pack!  And, don't forget you can get FREE SHIPPING on any order through Nov. 8th at The Ribbon Resource, no promo code needed.  Sweet!

I was sent their new Christmas release, DIY Project Stack Favor Boxes and DIY Project Stack Ornaments.  I'll be featuring a number of May Arts Ribbon's as well and you can get the full supply list at the end of this post.

This entire line is dedicated to templates, pretty papers and fun embellishments.  DCWV has made it easy for you with clear, concise instructions and templates that you can cut out and trace over your papers.  When I saw the pillow box template, I knew that's what I wanted to feature.  I ADORE pillow boxes!

To begin, I cut out my template and traced over several of the DCWV papers.  Once I trimmed my paper outlines, I scored where appropriate, starting with the 1/2" edge to fold and seal the box.

To score my arch, I measured approximately 1 1/2" from both ends of the curve and marked it on the opposite side of the paper that I want exposed.  I want to show the gingham design, so I flipped it over and marked the opposite side.  I then traced the arch, using my bone folder, from my marker to the appropriate points on the template.  I used 1/4" Scor-tape to seal my edges.

Here's my first box featuring the gingham DCWV paper, some of the included embellishments and May Arts Ribbon wired faux natural burlap ribbon,   I've used a 7.5" strip wrapped around the box and fashioned a bow with a 10" strip of burlap ribbon.

Here's my favorite DCWV paper, the cardinals.  I really wanted to go a little rustic with the gingham above, and this one as well.   The tag and red star are just a couple of the embellishments available in this collection.  I strolled out into my yard and snagged a few twigs to really enhance the rustic feel, and added a lot of May Arts Ribbon natural burlap string.  One yard, to be exact.  I took a 36" piece and folded it in half 6 times, then wrapped around the box and tied off the bow.   This string is a staple at my house.  I use it on most of my craft projects.  Mr. Cardinal, or is that a Mrs?  I can never tell the difference.... my 13 year old could tell you the difference!  Anyway, I added a little glitter glue on the wings and tail.  Love!

My last pillow box is all about the red.  What is Christmas without lots of red, right?  I kind of went all peppermint stick on this box with diagonal striped May Arts Ribbon wrapped around the box (7.5") and lots of silver and red sparkly curling ribbon (12" ea).  Isn't that polka dot paper bow adorable?  Another embellishment in this DCWV collection, along with the light bulb tag.

Now for the Ornament stack, I opted to try out this layered ornament template.  The instructions were to trace and cut 5 images for each ornament.  You will also need two 6" twine or string sections to fold in half and glue for a hanger.  Again, I scored all my images and used some hot glue to keep it all together.

Yes, that's my Christmas Tree!  Up and ready to go for Christmas crafting!  I'll use any excuse to get my tree up early.  

I finished off my first ornament with a pretty velvet polka dot bow and a tiny gemstone to match.  I love this pretty plaid DCWV paper which has olive tones, beige, red and white.  The flip side is a solid olive color.

Finally, we have another ornament that features the red swirly Christmas tree paper with gold foil on the flip side.  Gorgeous!  I topped this off with a really pretty, gold sheer bow (24"),

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Here's the list for the week if you missed someone.

Monday

• Gini Williams Cagle
• Jen Shears
• Jenifer Cowles

Tuesday

• Jennifer Davey
• Karen Baker

 Wednesday

• Karen Hanson
• Latrice Murphy
• Lori Williams

Thursday

• Mallika Kejriwal
• Marielle LeBlanc

Friday

• Michele Kosciolek
• Tracy McLennon
• Terri Burson

May Arts Ribbons used:

C-1-30 1" Gold Sheer Ribbon (24")

455-15-10 1.5" Faux Natural Burlap Ribbon (18")

SE-14 1/8" Red Sparkly Curling Ribbon (12")

SE-31 1/8" Silver Sparkly Curling Ribbon (12")

SM-10 1/8" Natural Burlap String (1 yard)

SM-09 1/8" Ivory Burlap String (12")

QD-46 1.5" Green Sheer Velvet Dot Ribbon (10")

352-14 1.5" White Sheer, Red Striped Diagonal Ribbon ( (7.5")

Additional supplies:

Tombow Adhesives/Foam Squares

Ranger Stickles Christmas Red glitter glue

DoubleClick Skittles Bubble Embellishments

Green Rhinestone

Scor-tape

We R Memory Keepers Trimmer/Scorer

Ruler, Scissors, Marker

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Sizzix Mug of Cocoa Treat Boxes

My son turns 13 this week.   Of course, I've gone and let time slip away and I am not prepared for a party.  So, I thought I'd take these new Sizzix dies for a spin (Mug and Spoon and Scoreboard XL Make-it-3-D Box) and make some "Cocoa to go" treat boxes to pass out at the party as parting gifts.

I even went so far as to emboss silver spoons.  With snowflakes.  And made tiny little hand-tied bows.  I'm so proud of my handiwork.

I showed them to my son and was quickly informed that boys don't care about frilly stuff.  Oopsy.  Guess I'll have some happy co-workers instead.

(These are filled with a Swiss Miss cocoa packet, Kraft Jet-puffed Peppermint marshmallows and a Hershey's Chocolate Peppermint candy cane.  What is wrong with that boy?!)

*Thank you Eileen Hull!*

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http://www.facebook.com/wavingmywand >Big giveaway at 500 likes!

Additional supplies: May Arts Ribbon, Tombow Xtreme Runner adhesive, We R Memory Keepers scoreboard/trimmer, K & Company Mod Holiday Designer Paper, SEI Kraft Basics silver cardstock

Disclosure:  If you decide to make a purchase through my affiliate links, Amazon will pay me a commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free.  Thanks.

#sizzix #eileenhull #cre8time

Rudolph's Blizzard Mix: Christmas baking with kids

I am so excited to be participating in this fun, creative event with Laura Kelly Designs.  Spending quality time with our kids should be the most important part of each and every day.  I'm thankful that my son loves, and I do mean, LOVES to cook.  He can whip up a mean batch of sweet and sour chicken, bake cookies....you name it.  He's almost 13 and it didn't take any convincing to join me in the kitchen to bake my own recipe, aptly named Rudolph's Blizzard Mix.  It's a fun holiday snack mix that the kids (and adults) will love making and, most importantly, eating!

Recipe:

1 box Crispix cereal (12 oz)

2 cups stick pretzels (Rold Gold)

1 stick butter (1/2 cup)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp. McCormick pure vanilla extract

1 cup red M&M candies (separated from red/green)

1 cup White chocolate mint M&M candies

1 to 2 cups mini Kraft jet puffed marshmallows

1/2 cup Domino confectioner sugar

 *optional - 1 bar of BAKER'S premium baking white chocolate

                     3/4 tsp of McCormick pure Peppermint extract

1.  Let the child separate the red candies.  Always a fun job.  Give them permission to munch on the green ones.  Or save for your candy dish when guests come over.

2.  Melt your butter and brown sugar over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.  Add vanilla extract and stir.  While it's melting, gently mix pretzels and cereal in large bowl, being careful not to crush cereal.  Pour melted mixture over cereal mix and fold in, coating well.  Spray or butter large baking pan and add mixture.  Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees, stirring after 15 minutes.  Spread on foil or parchment paper and cool.

3.  Melt baking bar in microwave oven or with double boiler on stove.  Add peppermint extract and stir briskly.  Drizzle over cooled snack mix.  We realized the heat vent in our kitchen was blowing warm air directly over our mix and the white chocolate wasn't hardening.  If your kitchen is too warm, just throw it all in the freezer for a few minutes.

4.  Break up your clumps of mix (if you opted to add the melted white chocolate) and place in large bowl.  Add candies and marshmallows, and stir gently.  

5.  Now for the blizzard!  You can sift your powdered sugar over the mix in your large bowl and/or, you can add an extra dusting just before serving.  The kids will have a blast adding the blizzard to Rudolph's mix.  Enjoy!

*Baking cups by Wilton 24 pc set

Visit the other blogs participating and leave  them some love, then scroll down and enter the  giveaway below.  Good luck and have fun cooking!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  If you decide to make a purchase through my affiliate links, Amazon will pay me a commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!

Candy Christmas card

Thanks for popping in and looking at my candy jar card.   It was made with 2 stamps from theUnity Stamp Co Oct 2013 kit of the month.   I tried a couple different things with the candy jar and ultimately did a 3-d bow made with sparkly red card stock and fussy cut the jar.   I used lots of glitter glue,  white on the peppermint sticks and some green on the mistletoe.  There's ribbon around the top of the jar and also a little bit of ''dirty'' on the jar 'cause you know little hands have been all into that candy!

I used a couple scrap strips on the side and a doily on the opposite side.   With all the detail on the jar,  I kept the sentiment simple on a 2'' circle punched piece of kraft paper.   I debated about doing more with that punched circle but I'm happy with the simplicity.   What do you think?

Supplies:  American Craft red glitter adhesive tape (punched dots),  Martha Stewart red sparkly cardstock,  Unity Stamps,  Inkadinkadoo green ink,  Bic Red Mark-it pen,  K&Company green designer paper,  red gemstones

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