Handmade Ornaments

Our design team member Ginger of Ginger Snap Crafts made these handmade doily ornaments and created a fantastic tutorial that I had to share just in time for the Christmas!  There's still plenty of time this weekend for this easy, DIY craft.  My daughter Molly would just love it, especially coloring in all the stamps!  Look how beautiful, easy and fun!



Ginger started by stamping from PSA Essentials various Peel & Stick stamp sets. She used stamps from Smirk, U.B.U. and Rudolph.   Then she created the doilies.  Head over to her blog for a complete tutorial on how to create these. (Hint: you create a paper fan first!)








I just love how they turned out! Don't you?

Vintage Treat Boxes

Ginger of Ginger Snap Crafts has an incredible ability to make simple crafts very chic.  Case in point are these vintage treat boxes that are just in time for the holidays!  The stamp designs of North Pole Peel & Stick by PSA Essentials are what make these vintage, Ginger makes it modern, and I just love the look and the concept!



For this project you need,

• PSA Essentials Peel & Stick stamp set {PSA * North Pole Peel & Stick stamps }
• PSA Essentials stamp body & black ink
• Twine
• Cardstock cut with a matchbox die {See Ginger's matchbox tutorial here! .}
• Twine
• Elmer’s X-TREME glue stick
• 1 inch circle punch
• your favorite holiday candy

Ginger started out by stamping... I just love the look of the black stamp on kraft!  Look how crisp and clean the stamps come out, too! 

She assembled her treat box when the stamps were dry and filled them with her favorite candies!  She created "Merry Christmas" gift tags using a round punch and twine too.   For more photos and tutorials, head to Ginger Snap Crafts! 

Are you creating home made treats for the holidays?  We'd love to know! 

Minted Holiday Cards

I absolutely love sending and receiving holiday cards.  Going to your mailbox during the month of December and seeing the familiar faces of family and friends on beautiful cards brings a smile to my face (even in a sea of bills, junk mail and a ridiculous number of catalogs.)

Every year, I carefully deliberate where I buy my holiday cards.  I weigh design options, pinning various designs from all my favorite sites on a board.  Then I examine the best deals: who has discounts, who has free shipping... This year, I ordered from Minted!  I had a hard time deciding on the design.  It seems I gravitate towards the colorful and whimsical, and I also like cards that have a portion of a holiday song or carol.  Here were my choices...

Which is your favorite?  Which do you think I chose?

The thing I just love about Minted is that their cards are by men and women all over the world.  They truly are "designed outside the cubicle" and the community of shoppers vote on which designs to be sold.  They have high quality printing and their paper is super luxe and thick.  (As a printmaking major at The University of Michigan, I have a true appreciation for paper and the thicker the better!)

To make return address labeling easy, I used my PSA Essentials personalized stamp. I switched out my middle by peeling away the center and stuck on a Christmas tree with heart ornaments from Whimsy Tree Peel & Stick stamps by PSA.  I send my cards to 200 people, so the stamp makes return addressing easy!

Where do you order your holiday cards?  Did you use a personalized stamp to make addressing easy and festive?  Share your thoughts with me here!

3 Cute Cards & limited edition GIVEAWAY!

We work with craft trade publications all the time and have developed some great releationships with editors. Last year, the editors of Canadian Scrapbooker requested that our PSA Stamp Camp designer Carly Robertson, create 3 holiday cards to be featured in their winter issue.  They turned out beautifully and have them here today to share!

Perhaps it's no secret that Carly has always been one of my favorite designers.  I love her clean and simple style, her card staging, and her product photography.  In these three cards, Carly is using Rudolph Peel & Stick stamps by PSA Essentials.  This Peel & Stick stamp set was a limited edition and is no longer available for purchase. Rudolph and The Misfits Peel & Stick stamps by PSA Essentials cannot be purchased ANYWHERE! Still want this adorable set? You will have to win it by entering below! I have ONE pack sitting on my desk ready to be shipped.

Isn't this set just adorable? And Carly makes the most darling cards.  She uses Copic Markers to help color up her stamps, which makes all the difference in bringing to life our stamps.  They really have character!

Be sure to stop by Canadian Scrapbooker on Facebook and tell them hello, and check them out online! Enter our giveaway below by following us on Twitter, tweeting about the giveaway, liking us on Facebook, or commenting! Contest ends 12/24 and we will contact the winner and announce on Facebook.  Stop by Carly's blog and see what she is up to.  She was recently featured in Romantic Homes Magazine. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas Prep!

We had a wonderful, very busy weekend prepping for Christmas!  We got out all of our decorations out, attended "Light up the night" on the promenade, went to the Bluffton Christmas parade, Mike and I went to an adults only holiday party, we got our tree, made a gingerbread house, and started our crafts...Phew.   Is it the weekend yet? Oh... it's Monday.

We started by decorating our special ornament tree.  My father started the tradition when I was young.  I am lucky to receive a VERY special ornament each year, even Molly loves that Tiffany blue box or that sparkly Swarovski Crystal!

"Light up the night" on the Bluffton Promenade included a movie in the park, cotton candy, bounce houses and Santa. The "scary" movie was a big hit with Molly.  Connor enjoyed the special treats... 

The Parade on Saturday was a lot of fun! Followed that evening by our Christmas party... 

Adults only please! Hostess with the mostess Ashley, serves up lots of food in their new house! Thanks for my friends Susan and Luke who babysat for the kids last minute when my sitter bailed! 

Sunday got off to a slow start but busier in the afternoon and evening with Gingerbread House making, getting our tree, and dinner with my in-laws. 

This week I will be sharing projects for Christmas!  How was your weekend?  Are you ready for the holidays yet? Slowly but surely, we are getting there... 

Christmas Party Food Table Decor

Last year, I held a cookie decorating party for my daughter, Molly, and 23 of her friends.  We had an absolute blast and I wish I had the time to pull one together this season (but I don't!) With Thanksgiving being "late" this year, I am just SO behind the 8 Ball.  I never shared the details of this party table set up... so here it is today!  I created a fun and festive stocking banner, party food tents, and cupcake toppers. So easy, anyone can do it.

For the banner, I started by spray painting clothes line pins.  I used foam and paper shapes by Createology found at Michael's, and then my U.B.U. Mrs. Claus and U.B.U. Peppermint Swing Peel & Stick stamps by PSA Essentials.

When they were all stamped and dry, I hung the paper and foam stockings from the clothes line pins on ribbon. Easy!

At the same time while my stamps were all loaded, I created food tents.  The Recollections place cards make this very easy and my PSA Essentials Peel & Stick stamps really dress them up.

Here is my feeble attempt to get the children to eat veggies...

Lastly, I created cupcake toppers.  (They are SO easy!) Just stamp away and then punch out. Adhere to larger card stock to frame them nicely, and then add to a lolipop stick with glue or tape.   Interchanging the center stamp is so easy (if you forget, just watch this video!)

Needless to say, the cupcakes got more attention then the vegetables, but at least I tried!  Are you having a holiday party?  What crafts are you working on?  Share links and comment here so I can check it out!

Cyber Monday Sale

I am excited to share this one-day only sale on PSA Essentials personalized address stamps!  All styles are available on 12/2/13 for just $24.00 (normally $40.)   Orders are guaranteed to arrive by Christmas.  They really are a great gift for any household or person and at this low price, you can get a few!  Don't miss out this one day sale...Head on over to pick yours up here!