Penguin Place, Matchbook Candy Holder, Stocking Stuffer, 2021 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog

Today I thought I would make a matchbook candy holder.  These are easy and fun to make.  Play along and I'll show you how! Yesterday I had made a "Penguin Place" penguin tag that went on top of the Twix bar holder.  I had made several penguins yesterday and today I'm using another one.

The base of the holder is a 6-1/2" long strip of Basic White card stock that is 1-5/8" wide.

I scored the strip at 1/2", 7/8",3-3/4" and 4-1/8".  I folded all the score lines inward. Use your bone folder to make those score lines nice and crisp.

I cut a 1-5/8" x 2-5/8" piece of Designer Series Paper (DSP) from the "Penguin Playmates" 12" x 12" package and glued it to the front of the holder.  That would be on the part that is from the 4-1/8" score to the edge of the card.

The candy bar is from the Dollar Tree. There were 4 in a package and they measure 2-3/4" x 1-3/8" and it's 3/8" thick.  I used 4 glue dots on the back of the candy bar to hold it in place.

I had die cut the rectangle from the "Color & Contour" bundle set using Basic White card stock.

The penguin was punched using Basic Black and Basic White card stock.  The eyes were stamped using black Memento ink. The beak and feet were stamped using Pumpkin Pie card stock. The penguin was glued to the front of the rectangle piece and moved up a bit on that piece. That would make room for the words which were from the "Penguin Place" set and black Memento ink was used. The words were trimmed by had and glued in place.  If you are not sure where to place the penguin, add the words first and then you'll be able to better see where the penguin can go.

I taped the rectangle in place on the front of the matchbook cover but I did not add any tape to the bottom part under the words. That part is where the bottom of the matchbook will be tucked in to.  

You can dress it up more with sequins or ribbons or both!  I just left it plain because I didn't want anything falling off in the bag that I was going to be putting them in to deliver them.

This was a very fun, quick and easy matchbook holder to make. And even more fun to give away!!   I'm not sure how tasty this candy is, I have never tried it.  But I do know it's cute and a fun size. You can adjust your strip for different lengths and thicknesses of candy bars if you can't find these. 

Thank you SO very much for taking your time to stop by and see today's stocking stuffer,

Wanda

Gorgeous Grunge Pencil Notepad Stocking Stuffer

I found a fun notepad but I didn't want to go through all of the work and steps to make it.  You can see my inspiration here. 

Instead of cutting lots of pieces of paper and clipping them together and gluing the end, I opted to take a finished scratch pad and work from there.

I took my scratch pad and measured it.  Once I got my measurements, I cut my Crushed Curry cardstock the same size as a piece of the pad paper.  

Next I took a piece of paper off the pad and folded it in half and then folded that half in half.  I marked those folds on my cardstock and lightly sponged the edges.  Don't fold the score lines, just lightly bend them to sponge.  I sponged all edges too. Set the piece aside.    

Then I cut a piece of Cajun Craze the same width as my pad.  I scored it at 1-1/4" and I folded it over to the back of the pad.  Then I scored that mark the fold made.  You may want to try this piece with some scrap copier paper.  I didn't make my Cajun Craze long enough to cover the entire back of the pad.  After finishing it, I wished I had.  But I can always add a piece to cover the back.  Anyway. I glued the Cajun Craze to the back of the pad.  

Next I glued the Crushed Curry piece to the inside of the Cajun Craze piece.  

I cut a piece of Smoky Slate 3/4" wide and long enough to fit the top of the pad.  I stamped the broken lines from the "Gorgeous Grunge" on top using Smoky Slate ink.  I glued that in place and the pad was done!

These would make a great stocking stuffer.  They would also make great teacher or student gifts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Fun Fold Friday Frostwood Lodge Weekend Project

I’m trying to get things back to “normal” here. We took a few days off earlier in the week to head on up to Duluth for some R&R.  It was nice to get away but it’s the coming back and catching up on things and trying to get back into the everyday routine stuff that is tough.  I did pre-post on my blog so you would have some fun things to look at.  And I was pre-posted up til today.  SO today being it’s the “Fun Fold Friday” post I have something not only fun but great for stocking stuffer’s or little gifts for your friends or coworkers.  I am making these to sell at the upcoming craft fair.  I LOVE making these and they are SO easy to do too.

For the one you are seeing here I took a piece of card stock and cut it 8" x 3".  Now this measurement is set for the tea bag I am using.  My tea bag measures 2-½" x 2-1/4".  The best way to determine the size of the card stock you will need is to take a piece of scrap copier paper and on the short side cut it a half inch longer than the tea bag.  Now take that strip and fold it around the tea bag and make sure you leave a 1/4" space more on the left flap (your first fold).  On the centerfold you will need to add 1/4" more and for the final flap you need to cut it to it will meet on the outside of the first fold you made.  This piece is generally the same size as the middle piece. 

On the flap I cut the angle 7/8" up from the bottom and all the way to the fold.  I just line the fold and the 7/8" mark I made on the flap and cut. 

I often make these using white card stock and a decorative wheel too.  I LOVE the snowflake wheel for these.  Today I opted to use decorative paper.  Mine is from the “Frostwood Lodge” download I purchased.  This one is #10 in the pack.  I printed it out on 30# copier paper.  You want to use at least a 28# paper but the higher the number the better quality print you will get. 

After I cut my cardstock I then cut the pieces of decorative paper 1/8" smaller (on two sides) and taped them in place. 

I glued the first panel on the bottom and the open edge.  I folded that panel in place and let the glue set up.  Then I glued the small 7/8" piece and the bottom of that panel and pressed it in place.  I let the glue set up a bit before I added the tea.  If the glue is not dry and you add the tea, the pressure of the tea bulging will cause the bottom to split open.  I don’t usually have that problem since I do about a dozen at a time and by the time I get to the first one it’s set up or even completely dry. 

Ok, once you’ve added the tea you can add the bellyband.  I just take a strip of card stock and I wrap it around the tea holder.  I never measure these because it’s easier to wrap, fold and glue.  Don’t glue the bellyband to the holder.  It needs to be slipped off, it’s mostly for decoration.  I am not sure how easy it would be to remove the tea if the band were glued or taped in place.  You can give it a try but to me it’s just another step I don’t want to do.  If you do not glue that angled flap down then you need to make sure the edge of the bellyband is caught under it so it will stay down.

You are now ready to decorate the front as you wish!  My words were done on the computer.  I also have 10 sheets of different wordings for cards that, when printed out, fit in the 1-1/4" circle punch.  You can purchase the download here.  You can print out as many as you like too!

You can add a personal greeting behind that front flap either on the inside of that angled flap or on the cardstock.  I add it to the lower part of the cardstock.  But for the craft fairs I just leave it blank. 

On the back of mine I add this little poem.  I print it onto a large 8-1/2" x 11" label and cut them to fit. The poem reads:
On Christmas Day
At half-past three
Have yourself a cup of tea.

I’ll think of you,
You’ll think of me
Sitting around the Christmas tree. 

Isn’t that a sweet little poem and SO perfect for this tea holder?

Personally I like making these without the decorative paper.  They go a lot quicker but then again they are not quite as pretty but they are pretty enough!

When I’m all done I seal them up in a 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" baggies and they are ready for the craft fair!

I hope you have fun with this and thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Lucky Shamrock Candy Bag Weekend Project

Here is a fun way to whip up some "Lucky Shamrock" candies for your friends, co-workers, customers or even for the kids!!! Including hubby!  I made this for my hubby!  Hopefully he won't see this post before St. Patrick's Day but if he does it's ok, it's not like it's Christmas and I'm showing his gifts on here!!

To make this I used the "Lucky Shamrock" download.  I opened up the image and set it on the page.  First I printed it out at a size that I could punch out the center with a 1" punch.  It's very easy to do it and it really doesn't waste that much ink. Just be sure when you print you start out with one on the page and print it in a draft mode so it uses very little ink.  Then check the size of it with your punch or with the catalog the original image is from.  Once you are happy with the size fill the page with the number of them you need.  I needed 8 for punching out the shamrock and one more for the header. 

Once I got them printed and punched out I punched out eight 1-1/4" circles out of Garden Green and taped them with Glue Dots to the foil candies.  The Glue Dots seem to stick the best to that foil.  Then I taped the single shamrocks on top of the green circles.  I set them aside and went back to the computer to work on the background of the "Top Note" Sizzix die piece.  I deleted all of the shamrocks on the page and then I just shrunk the shamrock down to a small size. I printed out one to see if I was happy with the size. And luck was on my side, I liked how it looked.  So I did a copy and paste and kept adding the image until the page was full enough so I could fit it on my "Top Note" die.  I printed it out on card stock and then cut it to fit on the "Top Note" die.  I also cut out a piece of Garden Green on the "Top Note" die.  I trimmed the printed image so the Garden Green piece would be the border.  I scored both pieces in the center and then I taped the printed piece to the green piece. 

Next I got a little zip baggie that measures 3" x 5" (these work the best with the "Top Note" headers) and I filled it with the candies. I took the "Top Note" header and I stapled it in place.  Now I ALWAYS staple these type bagged "thing" backwards.  I am covering the staple with the scallop so when I staple it backwards, the back will have the smooth part of the staple and the front will have the bumps. And of course those bumps will be covered with the scallop image and the back of the header is nice and smooth.  Plus you don't have to think about one of those bumps catching on anything, including a finger if it didn't staple nicely!

Before attaching the scallop I added three little pieced of ribbon loops to the back, then I taped it in place and VIOLA, it was done!  This is something the kids can help work with you on too (if you let then in your workroom that is!!!).

I'll leave it on my worktable, hubby will probably not see it and if he does I'm sure he won't think it's for him!!

Have fun making someones day with a candy treat bag!!

Thank you ever SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

Chalkboard Technique Improved!!

Here's a fun "Chalkboard Technique" that was shown at SplitCoastStampers. It's VERY simple to do too. You stamp your image, preferably a solid image, with white craft ink. Then you use daubers (or Q-Tips) and dab on the color with chalk. According to their instructions you are to remove the excess chalk with a Swiffer floor towel or a paper towel. I found it easier to use an art gum or kneadable eraser. If you don't have one of these erasers I highly recommend you buy one. They are in the drawing department of your local craft store. The eraser is pliable. You can knead it into any shape you like. I kneaded mine and formed a cone with it and used the tip of the cone to pick up the excess chalk on the black area after I lightly brushed off the excess on the solid areas. The chalk showed up on the black card stock so I thought I would give the eraser a try. It worked SO well that it will be my choice item for removing excess chalk. This eraser is also great because it will pick up graphite off your papers and not wear the paper down nor leave a mark. It removes the marks very cleanly. I have actually been able to remove some ink smudges from my cards too. Not every time but once in a while I catch a break and it works!!!

I thought this would be a fun technique to use making a teacher or student card. The apple is from the Stampin' Up! "Tart & Tangy" set. I also used the "MY ABC's" wheel and the "ABC Images" set. I colored the background apples in with markers. A few punches later and I had a card. This is a VERY quick and easy card to do too. I am going to have to play with the Chalkboard technique a bit more. It was very fun plus it was an easy technique.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda