DIY Lip Balm Holders

Hello friends,

It's Christmas eve - how exciting!  I don't know about you, but this time of year I love everything peppermint ... candy canes, ice cream, cocoa and even lip balm.  A while back I made some homemade Peppermint Lip Balm as gifts and thought I would share my project with you.

Packaging your homemade lip balm is so fun and easy to do!  Sometimes the holiday inspiration you need can be found right in your own backyard.  I love to use natural elements like pinecones and Baker's twine to create beautiful gifts.

You Will Need

• Kraft paper or cardstock
• Hole punch
• Baker's twine or thread
• Small pinecones and/or sprigs
• Hot glue gun
• Stamps, ink or rub-on stickers
• Pen or marker

To Make

• Cut Kraft paper 3"W x 4" H.
• Write the name of your lip balm at the top (if you prefer you can computer generate the name before cutting your paper).
• Punch two holes approx. 1" apart in the center of the card.
• Thread Baker's twine from back to front and tie a bow.
• Use hot glue to piece together a pinecone and sprig.
• Arrange the cluster on card and use hot glue to secure everything in place.
• Add stamped images or rub-ons to embellish.

Just like my previous post, these lip balms also make great stocking stuffers and can be made in so many different flavors.

Wishing you a magical Christmas eve and a Merry Christmas!

Essential Oils Gift Bag

Hello everyone,

Today I thought I would share with you a gift I put together for someone special.  This calming gift set of essential oils consists of Lavender, German Chamomile and Rose.  The set contains relaxing effects that are perfect after a long day!  They can be added to a diffuser, mixed into your favorite soaps or added to massage oil.  I'm hoping these oils will allow my friend to relax and rejuvenate herself.

During this time of the year I find myself contemplating if I should give handmade gifts, buy gifts and how much to spend.  Please tell me I'm not the only one thinking this!

I'll be gifting these to her in this beautiful natural muslin drawstring bag and including usage cards. 

So what do you think?  Will she pamper herself and enjoy the aromatic properties?

These little gift bags would also make great stocking stuffers.  Just add a piece of tissue paper, a personalized name tag and some ribbon.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Scent of Christmas

Hello,

Happy Tuesday!  I'm back today to share with you a Christmas DIY project that I just finished.  It took about 10 minutes to complete and now my home is filled with the most beautiful fragrance for Christmas.

All you need to create this pretty diffuser are the following items:

• Diffuser reeds
• Fragrance oil
• Amber glass bottle
• Scrapbook paper
• Ribbon, lace or seam binding
• Stamp and ink
• Tag or embellishments

Once I decided on the scrapbook paper I wanted to use, I cut the piece of paper to fit around the middle of my glass bottle overlapping the ends slightly so I could glue them together.  I then wrapped a piece of vintage seam binding and tied a bow.  This particular paper is called 'Gilded Christmas'.  I just love the champagne color with gold snowflakes!

On a piece of Naturals Ivory paper I stamped Merry Christmas in StazOn Timber Brown and cut it out to make a tag.  A small grommet was added to the hole to finish it off.  It was tied around the bottle with gold cording.

I added Christmas Memories fragrance oil to the bottle then placed several diffuser sticks next to the container to see if they were the correct height.  I find it is easier to cut them first before placing them in the bottle with the oil.  I have to say this Christmas scent is heavenly.  A wonderful Christmas pine combined with apple cider, cinnamon sticks, orange peels and clover.

The sticks will begin to diffuse immediately, but it may take several hours before you begin to smell the aroma.  After a few days flip the reed sticks to refresh the scent.

Thank you for visiting me and I hope you are enjoying the holiday season.

Christmas Star Tart Candles

Hello friends,

Back in the fall I made some fun and easy tart tin candles so out came the beeswax again.  This time I used star shaped tins with a wonderful Peppermint Swizzle fragrance oil. 

Besides the aroma of cool crisp peppermint it also has touches of sweet vanilla undertones.  Perfect for the holidays!

Since some of the candles are going to be gifts I placed each one in a cellophane bag.  The bags were tied with greenery and Cherry Cobbler seam binding.  The tags were crafted using Spellbinder dies with a cute peppermint candy image covered in glitter.  

If you would like instructions on how to make these candles, please hop over to my previous post for all the details.

I hope you are finding time to enjoy all the beauty of the season.  Thanks for stopping by.

Light Bulb Money Holder

Hi everyone,

Wow, I can't believe it's December already!  I have been busy making craft projects for the holidays and want to share with you my light bulb money holder.  This is such a fun and easy project to make!

I started by antiquing the top of the jar for a vintage feel then wrapped a piece of vintage seam binding around the lid and created a bow.

Next, I adhered Merry to the front of the glass jar in gold then placed tiny gold stars inside for some Christmas sparkle.

To create the cute tag, I used SU's Merriest Wishes set with the Merry Tag Dies.  This is an awesome bundle to have.

I used Brushed Gold and Shimmery White paper.  The back of the tag was embossed in gold with To and From.

To finish your project just roll up your bills and place them in the jar.  I suggest putting a rubber band around them so they can easily be removed (the recipient can use tweezers, if necessary, to remove them).

I can think of so many wonderful ways to decorate these jars and give them out for different occasions. 

Happy Crafting!

Thanksgiving Blessings ...

Hello blogging friends,

On this special day I am praying you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, remembering God's abundant blessings.  I have so much to be thankful for this year.

One of my favorite quotes about thankfulness is from Shakespeare, in the play Henry VI.

"O Lord, that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness."

~ William Shakespeare ~

I also have a card to share with you showing my gratitude.

Tall wheat was stamped in StazOn Timber Brown.  Using a 1 3/4" circle punch and a Post-it note I created a mask for the sun.

The background was sponged using a Kaleidacolor ink pad.  I then removed the Post-it note and lightly sponged Barely Banana on the sun.

The inside sentiment was also stamped in StazOn Timber Brown.

Wishing you abundance, hope, peace and a festive holiday season.  Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Stamps:  Hero Arts Tall Wheat, Serendipity Stamps Gratitude
Paper:  Old Lace, Crumb Cake, Shimmery White, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Image - StazOn Timber Brown; Kaleidacolor Autumn Leaves, Barely Banana
Accessories:  1 3/4" Circle Punch, Post-it Note, Spellbinders Labels Eight #5
Technique:  Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

A Lighthouse

Hi blogging friends,

I haven't shared any of my cards lately so today I have a birthday card.  The top two layers were cut using the Spellbinders Labels 18 dies.  The lighthouse image is from Cornish Heritage Farms.  I used both inks and Prismacolor Pencils to color the scene.

The Manchester Plaid background paper I found in my stash and thought it went really well with the Lost Lagoon and Basic Gray.

Inside was created with the same color scheme.  Happy Birthday was stamped in Baja Breeze ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.  The crane and pebbles were stamped in StazOn Stone Gray. To create the water effect I sponged the paper with Bashful Blue and then applied a coat of Crystal Effects.

Thanks for stopping by.  I appreciate all of you who leave comments or email me. 

Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms, SU Perfect Pairing, Stampscapes Gulls, Pebbles, Crane in H20 & Tall Grass Small
Paper:  Lost Lagoon, Manchester Designer Paper, Basic Gray, Shimmery White, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Images - StazOn Stone Gray; Prismacolor Pencils; Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze with Clear EP 
Accessories:  Crystal Effects, Spellbinders Labels Eighteen #4 & #5, Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangles #5
Technique:  Sponging, Colored Pencils
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

DIY Branch Centerpiece

Hi blogging friends,

As Halloween approaches, I wanted to share with you my Manzanita branch centerpiece.  It's perfect to add height to any tablescape or side table.

I used a Longaberger Halloween basket as the base.  I wanted a neutral color and thought the gray & white basket was perfect.  The Manzanita branch was mounted to a piece of wood and set into the round basket. 

The top was then covered with Spanish moss.  Seed lights were wrapped around the branches to add a mysterious twinkle.  Keeping with my Edgar Allan Poe theme I have a few perched crows.

I also added a "creepy" spiderweb tie-on with a dangling spider.

So simple and cute to make!  You can be creative and use a piece of driftwood or grab a branch from your backyard.  If you like the look of the Manzanita branch, please see my friend Grace and she will create something special for you.  I plan to change mine for the seasons.  Sparkly bulbs for Christmas, little eggs with a nest for spring, butterflies for summer ... you get the idea.

Thank you for stopping by!

Autumn Tart Tin Candles

Hello everyone,

Do you remember the tart tin soaps I recently made?  Well, I had some tart tins left over and decided to make some candles with them.  This project was so much fun!

Since autumn is here I picked up Pumpkin Souffle' candle oil.  Besides pumpkin it has hints of French vanilla cream, ginger, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves.

To heat your beeswax pellets I recommend you use a double boiler.  Fill the bottom half with about 2 inches of water and heat until it comes just to a boil.  Place the top half of your double boiler inside the bottom half and then add your smaller metal pot or container.  Lower the heat to a gentle simmer.  Now add your beeswax pellets.  If you are using a block of wax I suggest you cut up the wax into smaller chunks to speed up the process.  For three tart tins you only need 4 oz. of pellets.

You want to melt it slowly and stir it often with a metal spoon.  Never leave the wax unattended as it melts.  Some people use a thermometer to monitor the temperature.  Beeswax should melt about 145 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.  Be sure to check the lower pan periodically to see if it needs more water as it will start to evaporate.

When wax is completely melted remove the container from your double boiler and pour in your fragrance oil.  Stir the ingredients and then pour a little wax into each tin and drop your wick into the wax making sure it is centered.

Now pour the rest of your wax to fill each cup.  Allow to set for a couple of hours.  You can speed the process by putting the tarts in the refrigerator to cool.

To decorate for gift giving, bundle your tarts with seam binding or ribbon and make a cute tag with the name of the scent.

I hope you have enjoyed making candles with me.  I'll have other designs to share with you.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Butterfly Delight

Hello,

I have a butterfly card to share with you.  I felt like doing some watercoloring today.  The roses were stamped on watercolor paper in StazOn Timber Brown.  They were colored with Rich Razzleberry ink with the leaves in Old Olive.  I used a blender pen for both.

The script and splatter were stamped in Crumb Cake.  I did stamp both images on scrap paper first so I would obtain a lighter image.

To create the butterflies I used the Memory Box Leavenworth Trio die and Cascadia Trio die.  All the pieces were cut from Rich Razzleberry paper.  To lighten the underside of each butterfly I sponged ColorBox Frost White on the paper.  The top pieces were spritzed with Tzukineko Sheer Frost Shimmer Spritz and then assembled.  They were popped up using dimensions.

Before gluing the layers I wrapped a piece of 3/8" Rich Razzleberry Taffeta ribbon around the front and created a bow.

The flourish on the inside is from the Stampin' Up Bliss set.  It was stamped with Crumb Cake ink.  I wanted it to be light so it wouldn't detract from any writing on the inside.  No. 5 was stamped in StazOn Timber Brown.  This will be used as a blank notecard.

I hope you have some wonderful plans for the weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

Stamps:  SU Elements of Style, French Foliage, Bliss
Paper:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Watercolor
Ink:  Image - StazOn Timber Brown; Roses - Rich Razzleberry; Leaves - Old Olive; Script & Splatter - Crumb Cake (stamped off once); ColorBox Frost White on Butterflies; Inside Flourish - Crumb Cake  
Accessories:  3/8" Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon, Tsukineko Sheer Frost Shimmer Spritz, Memory Box Leavenworth Butterfly Trio Die, Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio Die; Bow-Easy  
Technique:  Watercoloring, Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")