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It’s that time of year again…time to think about gifts for friends and neighbors, teachers and co-workers….why not make them this year? I created this Floating Image Ornament last year to fill this exact need! It was simple enough to break down and mass produce and easily dressed up or added to other items when the occasion called for it. This exact set may no longer be available, unfortunately but this same basic idea would work with so many other sets (Snow Burst from the Holiday Mini Catalog leaps to mind!) Adding a little glitter or fake snow to the inside of the ornament would add a little *bling* to this ornament. Or if you chose a set that needs a little more color, you could color the back of the acetate with a Sharpie Marker or add some real sparkle using the RICE technique (Check back on Monday for that tutorial.) No matter which way you decide to decorate your own Floating Image Ornament, I’ll bet you get asked the same thing… “How’d you do THAT???” Download complete instructions here: Floating Image Ornament Instructions

Or should that be stepping it up a ‘punch’? Either way today’s Designer Series Paper Card features a peek-a-boo window through the center of the Scallop Punch and the front of the card. This little window gives a preview of the interior of the card and practically begs the viewer to open it! The basic design is very similar to the one I featured a few days ago…but because of the extra steps involved, it’s not really ideal for mass production. But then again like Steven Wright once said, “Everything’s within walking distance if you have the time!” So why not start creating this card today!

Last month I wrote about creating holiday cards by the carton and how keeping your design simple helps you to reach your goal, keep your sanity and most importantly keeps the project FUN! Here are two simple designs that are quick to put together and can easily be mass produced for the holidays or adapted according to the supplies you have on hand.

First, this card with it’s medallion of layered circles, a stamped greeting and a mere 2 inches of Designer Series Paper (buy 3 packs get 1 FREE until Nov. 30th!) This means you get 12 cards from each sheet of DSP…how’s that for value? The cardstock accents are Real Red and Old Olive and the strip across the middle is a mere 1/2″ wide. Now, I understand that some of this cutting can be scary if you’re trying to make tons of cards, so let me suggest a visit to your local print & copy shop (ex: Kinko’s) they will cut your paper according to your instructions for about $1 per cut and they can cut about 15 sheets at a time! For a mere $3-$5 investment you can have all you card pieces cut at once! What more could a busy little elf ask for?

Shhhh! Don’t tell my kids…..but I love paper piecing. I know it’s not the “coolest” craft but I love the challenge behind it…it’s like working on a puzzle without the picture…you just never know what you’re going to come up with! I started fooling around with (what else?) my circle punches and decided I wanted to make a face…that morphed into a Santa…and that morphed into this! Who wouldn’t love to find this little guy on their package or on a card? I made him using SU!’s Photo Corner, Key Tag, 1″ Circle, 1/2″ Circle, 1/4″ Circle and the Spring Bouquet Punches! I dabbed Pastels on the pieces to give them some dimension (this is key!) The eyes are brads, heated and dipped in black emboss powder so they are bright and shiny! Sooooooo cute & so simple you can make him by the dozen! Ho! Ho! Ho!