Christmas Bags

Finally a snowy cold morning here!  Perfect time to show you the Christmas bags I was working on.  In total I made 10 of these and started them back in October.  Well started planning and purchasing. I added a lot of photo's for these since there is so much detail.

Every year for my husband's company Christmas Party I make a little something for a staff giveaway.  This year I decided on Kraft Bags.  I went to a local packaging store to get some goodies and inspiration.  There are 5 bags shown here but in total I made 10.  These Kraft bags were a great price at $1.89 per.

I picked up the ribbon and bells from Michaels and this mesh ribbon from the $1 Store.  It has gold in it to, so very festive!

I ended up last minute adding some tags.  For these I stamped a French Script on the background then stamped these Tim Holtz Holiday stamps in clear, then clear embossed.  Once that was done I distressed with some TH Distressing inks.

The designer paper is new this year from Stampin Up.  The stamp is a Vintage Holiday Post Card which I embossed in black.  I then coloured the key with my markers, re-stamped and cut them out.  Then popped them up for dimension.  Notice the Antique Brads, also SU.

Inside the bag is another bag holding the Gift Cards.  I picked up these little Kraft bags from the same packaging store, $3.99 for 100!  I stamped these TH trees then added some Martha Stewart white glitter glue for snow. The tag is the Buck again stamped and punched as a tag to tie in the two bags.

I stamped the tree again on each Two Tags Die Cut Tag.  Then tied off a button with Twine.

In each bag there are 5 tags tied together with a Gift Card on each.  The front tag has my husband's Business card (not shown) representing a day off to the lucky employee. 

Here is the full set of 5 laid out for you.  These bags took me a total of 3 hours per bag to complete.

 Each bag is worth about $200 as a gift. Due to the fact of the day off. 

I'm so proud of these little bags and I was proud to stamp my Oh Scrap on each of them. 

 

Embossing Cookies

Embossed Cookies...for real!!!!

Now I realize to some of you use your embossing folders to emboss your shaped cookies may be sooo last year.  But I JUST saw this and was like...O.M.G.EEEEE!  Now why didn't I think of that.  I feel awful, I can't link the blog I found it on.  I was scrolling Pinterest when I saw the picture and I guess I didn't pin it.  Really sorry, I think it's SOOO important to link the blogs we find stuff on. 

My apologizes on the photo's, it's overcast here this morning.  And despite the whole rear of my house being glass the pictures still turned out dark:(

I'm still Holiday Baking (7 batches of Biscotti yesterday) and these are my Moms Shortbread.  Sorry, not allowed to share the recipe.  However, I changed it up and used this new little cutter I picked up.  This recipe yielded 70 cookies.  Make sure you wash your folder in hot water and soap first!

LOL...This is NOT one of those fancy Gourmet Blogs.  It's a craft blog so my counter is a direct reflection of my craft desk...messy but produces greatness!  *SNICKER*

I positioned the pattern on the folder to center on the cookie then pressed firmly. 

This is  Stampin Up Folder, Vintage...something?

Here are all 70 of my cookies...with my mess!  And a bag of caramels for the Chocolate Turtle Cookies I made next. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have you thought of embossing your cookies and done it?  If you have let me know.  I feel like I'm the last to know!

Let me know if you're going to try this too?

Mini Album Week 2

 It's week 2 Mini Album

 ...and I didn't get as far as I would have liked on my Mini Album.  I had some other crafty commitments to get done.  But those are out of the way and I can get decorating.  That's the fun part!

I did get to cut all my designer paper.  This took some time especially since I had 52 cuts...well 54 including the cover and back.

As you are cutting be sure to trim all your extra pieces.  Here I have a file folder to keep them all together for this project.  These will come in handy when you get to layering your pages.

I used an old coffee tin for the scraps.  It gives you an idea of how little waste there was once I trimmed and saved the big pieces!

I taped the top and bottom of each piece.  One, this saves on tape (I went through a full roll) and two it allows me to tug tabs or ribbon through the openings if I want.  I can always add glue if I want to seal the paper to the file folder page.

Keep your pages organized!

If there is a piece of DP that has something you want to show off be sure to use it fully on your page.  This is my front cover..."52 Things I "LOVE" About You"

Here are all my pages together. 

OK now I knew this could be an issue. Yep, too many pages! So I am going to cut them in half to 26 pages. It's still going to be big! But, now I have extra pages for another mini album or 2.

Stuff to embellish...

buttons

felt

tags

envelopes

metal

clips

twine

ribbon

photo's

tickets

assorted punches

tabs

These are just a few ideas I will be using to embellish:)

IT'S OFFICIAL- Oh Scrap is launched

Welcome to Oh Scrap!

~Where you pay extra for crooked stamping, offset layers and torn paper.

I have officially launched my new website Oh Scrap Custom Cards. 

I have been crafting with paper now for over 15 years.  During that time I have learned a lot!  In the almost 2 years since starting Canadian Nickel Scrap'n I have learned way more than I could have ever expected!  I have met some amazing crafters and connected with some awesome craft company's.  I have had the honor of crafting with some pretty talented crafters through my past and current Design Teams. It's on these Teams I have learned to challenge myself and have learned so many new things. 

I will be offering everything from cards with Cricut cuts, stamping, customized cards, distressed stuff, tags to party packages.  Everything is hand crafted by me and we will work together to get you exactly what you want.  Keeping in mind there are no big fancy cutting machines that make the perfect cut.  Just me and my crafty hands making it perfectly unperfect.

Please pop by my new website.  If you know me from here please leave me a Testimonial for all me new OH SCRAP stalkers that may not know how fabulous I am by clicking HERE. 

Want to see what inspires me at the moment?  Check out my What's New page HERE.

I have a selection of craft projects on My Gallery page HERE.  My Blog, Canadian Nickel Scrap'n is my full portfolio.

I thank you for taking the time to read this and checking out my new website Oh Scrap Custom Cards. 

Dandylicious Blogiversary Blog Hop

Dandylicious is celebrating her Blogiversary with a Birthday themed Blog Hop

Are you just arriving to my blog for the first time?  If so this is a blog hop and I don't want you to miss a thing!  So head to the start  by going to Dandy's blog first.  If you've already been hoping then you should be arriving from Becky's blog and her awesome creative project!

My Birthday card is full of goodies.  This card was commissioned by a friend for his wife's birthday next week.  I was allowed to do whatever I wanted so I had some fun!  This card is LOADED with goodies!  I even tried some cork which by the way is my new favorite thing.  This card is a 5x5 Easel card.  I like Easel cards because they display nice and can hold the weight of embellishments and layers.

I used a couple Tim Holtz die cuts including the dress form one and the bird cage cut.

I stamped this ruler on both Kraft paper and Cork.  Cork is stunning when stamped!

What a unique way by adding the age using playing cards.  I inked with alcohol inks.  Next time I'll try sanding with sand paper to take off some of the gloss!

I wrapped twine around the spool and tied off a metal key.  I then ran a pin through tied with some black tulle.  This cut sentiment is from Stampin Up.

The card extended.

Part of creating a distressed card is a lot of layering and adding metals, twine and things like cork.

I added black tulle behind the bird cage that acts like a skirt on the dress form.  Then attached some mini safty pins to dangle at the bottom.  I distressed the cork dress form even further with ink and tearing pieces off.  I also stamped a TH ticket of the cork for the main sentiment "A dream is a Wish your Heart makes".

The card standing.  Perfect for displaying and holding the weight of everything I loaded it with. 

I hope she loves her card! 

Where can you find me and stalk me if you haven't already?  Well, you can stalk my blog Canadian Nickel Scrap'n, add me to Facebook, I'm on Pinterest (wow is that place fun) and my new website...

Oh Scrap Custom Cards

 is my new website!  I'm super excited to offer my cards to you.  Please pop over and check it out.  If you know me already I'd love if you would leave me a comment in the TESTIMONIALS page. 

Thanks for hopping by and letting me know what you think.  Now you're ready to head off to CallyAnn's Blog!  Happy Hoppin!

Gift Set and another Auction

Ho Ho Ho...

Starting Bid is $25

My GF recently asked if I would want to make something for her son's Hockey Team to Auction off to raise money.  Of course!  So I decided on a Christmas card and tag set.  There are 6 cards and 6 tags for the whole set. 

I stamped and clear embossed the Christmas Carol background and did the same for the Scrappy Moms Stamps sentiment.  I added some Hemp twine and broke into my button stash!  YUMMY!

These little snowmen are cut from Winter Wonderland.  I adore them!  I repeated the music stamp to tie in the tags and the cards.  These little guys can also be used as tree ornaments.

I made 10 in total.

Set of 6 cards

All these are being auctioned off starting today. 

Click HERE to view the auction.  The ID is peewee5 password is flames.

If one of my stalkers decides to bid and has the winning bid, I will throw in some extra goodies I have made and a Cricut Cartridge!

Mini Album Week 1- TUTORIAL

Top Secret Christmas Present

***WEEK ONE***
(who knows how many more?)

Have you ever wanted to make a fabulous Mini Album but never knew how?  Well that's how I feel and I have no clue how?  Does that make me any less qualified...pfft NO!  I'm winging it!  I asked in my totally informal FACEBOOK poll if you wanted to see the final project...or a weekly post!  Everyone that answered went for weekly.  This way if you want to build along with me you can!  In no time we'll figure it out...right?  This book is for my husband and he's excited that I'm super excited!

Lets start, shall we...

Now I could go to the Scrapbook store and buy an expensive Chipboard book.  BORING...If you buy paper packs they come with a thicker card stock.  I happen to have some Stampin Up scrapbook kits that come with THICK chipboard.  Then it got me thinking, I also have file folders.  We'll get there in a bit...

Here's how I started... grab your

George and Basic Shapes Cricut cartridge.
(or any shaped cut)

STEP 1.
Cover and Backing

Use cheap (I used Walmart card stock) 12x12 card stock to get the size you have in mind for pages.  Save your good card stock for your mini album.  You can keep it all one size or mix it up.  I cut the front and back covers with this thicker chipboard.  Firstly, I don't have a lot of it and second I want a sturdy cover, but not super thick pages.  I cut my cheap card stock at 8".  I then traced the "U" shape onto my chipboard, cutting it out with good scissors! 

STEP 2.

Pages, shapes and sizing

Decide on your page shape(s) and sizing.  I chose to do 5 assorted page shapes and different page sizes.  To keep yourself organzied write on each page shape, the letter used (G&B has letters with the shapes), write the size you cut and how many cuts.  This may seem pointless but you will need to know this as you move along.  I have 52 pages I need.  So, I broke the cuts down into 5 page shapes, 2 page shapes @ 15 pages (making 30) 2 for the cover and back (making 32), 1 page shape @10 cuts (making 42) and 2 page shapes @5 each adding up to 52.  DO NOT PANIC.  Simply decide on how many pages you want and break it down.  Especially if you want different shapes.

STEP 3.

File folders as pages

OK, now that you have the amount of pages decided and the shapes you are using we are ready to cut them.  For this I wanted something thicker than card stock but not so thick as I have a lot of pages.  So I am hoping this works.  For this I went into my storage room and found a box of hanging files.  Now, I may get in trouble when it's discovered I hacked up perfectly good files.  But c'mon...I'm a scrabooker so I look at what I have before I buy!  These files fit in your cutter, so just trim the top.  Then cut along the the center crease where the file folds.  Flip once more and cut off the other hanging end.  Each file folder will yield 2 cut pages.  Perfect thickness to layer your designer paper later on.

STEP 4.

Keep track of your cuts

I am using 5 different shapes for my pages.  I already have my shapes sized and shaped from step 2.  Using the quantity button figure out how many cuts your file folder pages will cut.  In my case 4 out of the 5 pages could only take 2 cuts, and one could take 3 cuts.  Confused?  I am...but trust me, knowing how many cuts you can get out of each folder will save you time.  Once you know how many cuts write it down on your card stock cut.  Use each page cut like a note pad...you will be happy you did later!  This way you will know how many folders you need to cut.  Then you aren't cutting like crazy or cutting too few.

(TIP; I cut a couple extra pages as back ups.  If you don't need them you can save them for another smaller amount of pages album)

STEP 5.

Trim the exess

I wouldn't be a crafter if I didn't save and trim the cut files.  This is some pretty good thick stuff!!!  Trim off and hold onto all the extra.  We will (may) need this as we get further into the album.  Do I know this for sure...NO?  But these smaller pieces may be used for shapes, letters, tags to help embellish our album.

STEP 6.

Quantity Button is your Friend

As you are trimming file folders you can select your quantity, in this cas I have Qty:2 at 4 1/2".  Ummm ya that was it for Step 6!

STEP 7.

Clips work

As you complete each set of pages, clip them off.  This way you can work on each set of pages.  This is where taking the notes come in handy.  It's a lot to remember especially at 52 pages like I am doing.   You'll want to know this for when you start cutting your pricy Designer Paper. 

 For each page I wrote;

 the size

cartridge used

the letter I cut with

 the size I cut at

 how many pages I cut

and how many cuts I got out of each file folder.

If you are going to cut with 12x12 designer paper then it's easier and choose the Auto Fill button.  Or use up those scraps!

STEP 8.

Bring on the Paper

For my Mini Album I have selected 2 paper packs purchased at 40% off.  I am using Recollections Union Square pack.  I have been eyeing this paper pack for months waiting for the right project to come along.  Then I picked up Tim Holtz Crowded Attic paper.  I wanted to break up the papers even though I LOVE them both.  I cut this 12x12 Union Square page for the front cover...so I could get the "LOVE" on the front.

OK there you have it.  The start of my VERY first tutorial!  I am really excited to make this Mini Album and to share it with you.  If anyone is going to follow along and build with me maybe I'll add your progress too?  Any suggestions are welcome, just leave me a comment!

Oh and my Mini Albun is...

"52 Things I Love About You"

Hense the 52 pages.