Snowflake Gift Series #1 - and TUTORIAL!

Hello, and welcome to Day 1 of my Snowflake Series!
Each day with a new gifty project, featuring Stampin' Up's stamp set, Serene Snowflakes!

(Remember, yesterday I showed you a teabag holder and said to come back for a tutorial)

It all started b/c I had that 'secret project' I was working on (see bottom of post). One card for Ruth to make turned into 3, and then I got inspired and made several projects to match, using the same materials! 

Day #1 - Teabag Holder

Here's an inside view:














FYI: My plan was to make a video, but I'm not having much luck with those right now. ;-)

Ready to get started?
OK! 
Step 1:  6"x6" pc. cardstock (bashful blue)
Step 2:  Score at 3", turn and score at 3" again.

Step 3: Cut at an angle from RH corner up to middle, and LH corner up to middle.










It should then look like this:

Step 4: Fold on creases.

Step 5: Lay out flat again and stamp front & back portions, and flaps.

Step 6: Adhere sticky strip to each side, as close to the edge as possible.

Step 7: Fold upward onto sticky strip, and you've got your pockets!

Step 8: Decorate front, add a little matching note on the inside!

VOILA!

If instead of making them, you'd still rather purchase a set of these from me, let me know - I'll set up something for you in my Etsy shop! :)  I'll make up the holders, you put in the treat -- no tea-lovers that you know of?  Mmm...how about a Ghiradelli Chocolate - perfect! :)

Now...remember to go check out the matching project...at my review/giveaway on Living Well, Spending Less's 30 Days of Holiday Cheer!  Oh, but first, what do you think of today's project? ;-)

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes

Ink: Marina Mist

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Whisper White

Accessories: 2way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Marina Mist taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals, Paper Cutter

Thanks sooo much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)

Crystal

SPECTACULAR Sale!!

I just had to sneak this in...will post my tutorial soon, but we're losing days with this if I wait any longer!!

OH, MY.

If you're planning out your shopping strategy, make sure to put my Online Stampin' Store on the list!  You won't want to miss these "door busters"!  Even better - you don't have to wait until Black Friday and miss out on your other shopping - SHOP NOW!

Imagine - 50% off My Digital Studio & Designer Fabric!  Time to stock up on gifts for that crafter in your family...or yourself!  There's something for everyone, at 20-50% off! Stamp sets, Sizzix dies, Rhinestone brads, Hodgepodge hardware, Ribbon, Decor Elements, Digital Downloads, Designer papers & much more!!

Plus, get FREE Shipping on any online order over $150 (before tax and shipping)!

Gather a friend or two & place your order to get the free shipping plus hostess benefits. Order from any catalog, too - doesn't have to be from the Holiday Bundles seen here. Remember, for product bundles, you must use the bundle item numbers provided. Bundle discounts will not be applied if individual item numbers are used.

Click here to view a list of all the sale products, or take a look in my Online store here, or website here.  If you're in the Online Store and you'd like to go to my SU website, click on Crystal Lenssen Home (in top LH corner).   (Note: When viewing the bundles in the Online Store, click "More Images" to see photos of the other products in the bundle)

*********************
And don't forget about the Amazing Deal where you can join Stampin' Up! for just half price from now through November 30th. You get over $310 of crafting & business supplies for just $87.50!!!!

 
Contact me to join or to ask any questions you may have about joining. Or just click here to enter my web site. Go to the upper right corner & click on the 'Start Your Own Business' button.
 
WHEW!!  Clear as mud?
I just didn't want to delay any longer and have you miss out on fabulous deals!
 
Back soon with the tutorial...
Thanks for stopping by, and have a WONDERFUL day! :)
Crystal

Chocolate Cherry Crumb Cake

Mmmm...sounds good, huh?  Well, I'm not really a fan of cherries, but chocolate and cake sound good in the same sentence, am I right? ;-)

Okay, so maybe this is a little misleading, lol.  I'm actually here to share a little (non-food) project with you.

I had another plan for today, but I saw the color challenge on SCS and had to participate.  I mean, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, and Crumb Cake?  It's one of my most favorite color combos!

So I made this:


















Would you like to see see inside? OK. :)

A teabag holder! Complete with card (goes in other pocket) to write a note! :)  What a great little desk gift for co-workers, ladies in your Bible Study, bus driver, teacher...you get the idea! :)

Would you like to learn how to make a neat lil' gift such as this?  You would?  Great! :)

I'll be back later to share a tutorial with you on a related project...my first post in a SERIES!!
Here's a sneak peek:

I know, I know...that hardly seems fair. However, today didn't really go as I had planned, so I ran out of time.  I do have the pictures taken, I just have to put it all together for ya!

Here's the info on the CCCC Teabag Holder:
The background?  That's the "Take A Sip" wheel.
The main images?  From "Morning Cup" stamp set.
Sponged the edges...colored with aquapainter and ink pad lids.

Well, what do you think?

Have you checked out my review/giveaway yet on Living Well, Spending Less?  Run! :)  But not before commenting here about today's project...cause ya know how I love the love! :)

Back soon with a tutorial! :)
ETA: Here's the tutorial!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Featured on 30 Days of Holiday Cheer!

Well, the day has finally arrived, and it explains why I haven't been posting much...

I'm so excited to tell you I'm being featured on the blog Living Well, Spending Less!

This gal is a-mazing!  Her blog is all about living well, spending less - who wouldn't want to do that??!!  She has such a creative spirit and is super-savy when it comes to saving money - this gal AMAZES me.  I thought I was good with couponing & bargain hunting. Um, no.

Anywho....without further ado...I bring you....

Oh...did I mention there's a GIVEAWAY?!   :)

Click the Holiday Cheer icon above to go to Ruth's Blog "Living Well, Spending Less", where you'll read all about it! :-)

Stay tuned...I've got fun posts scheduled all week!

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

A Blogover, Etsy Update, & Computer Issues

Can you tell something looks a bit different around here? :)  Thanks to some help from a sweet friend of mine, my blog was able to receive it's first "Blogover" (aka blog makeover).  It's not exactly perfect, but with some more tweaking, I think it'll be ok! :)

I'm sitting on the couch at my parents', using their computer. Yup, we need a new computer so bad, and it seems like we may have to get one sooner than later.  I was hoping to wait & score an "After-Thanksgiving" super-deal, but we'll see.  Ahhh...loving this laptop experience!! Oh, and it moves sooo much quicker than my dinosaur at home. ;-)

What else?  Oh, I've been updating my Etsy Shop like crazy...made a snazzy new banner to match my blog, and adding a ton of stuff for your shopping convenience (and MORE will be added daily).  What does every gift need?

 Or THIS:

Go ahead, check out my updated Etsy site, HERE - all sorts of matchy-matchy gift tags at reasonable thrifty prices! My friend says I need to up the prices...silly girl! :)

Would you like a blog tour?
At the top you'll see some tabs. Click on each for more info.  There's a new tab labeled "Stampin Up Catalogs" - your one click source for all the current SU catalogs!

The RH column is pretty much the same...some items moved around...except for one big NEW thing!!

A direct link to my Stampin' Up website where you can see the current promos, projects, and more! Once there, you can shop directly through me by clicking on  SHOP NOW.  Yay!! So easy-peasy - whenever you want -24/7!  Order ships directly to you! :)

Well, what do you think?  Take a look around, let me know if you have any questions....and STAY TUNED!  I'm going to be featured on a blog soon...with a giveaway included!  I'll link up when the time arrives! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Mini Pocket Album

As a demonstrator, I have access to some great resources.  One of those being a monthly magazine called "Stampin' Success".

I stole selected a project featured inside and made it my own.

Here's the outside:

And here's the inside!

What a great little gift for someone special, this Holiday season!

I am NOT a scrapbooker.  But this, this I can do. ;-)

Well, what do you think of it?

Interested in becoming a demonstrator and having access to more ideas and inspiration?

There's a great current promo right now - contact me today! :)

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)

Stamps: Just Believe

Ink: Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Old Olive & Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Mini library clips, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Markers

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Letting Go

There are times when a mom decides to just let go and say, "okay...go for it!" :)

Awhile back, my daughters were playing outside...in a slight drizzle. Yup, where we live, we have MANY different names for many different kinds of rain. ;-)

When they came back to the house to say hello, I looked at their wet clothes and groaned inwardly.  Started thinking about how I would get these type of stains out of pink clothing, that they were probably getting too cold, and ugh...isn't this a BOY type of thing to do? lol.

But then, I threw that aside and decided to capture their childhood fun.  I think they were a little shocked that I wanted them to go back ouside and do it again, this time, for ME! :)

Soo...we began the trek to the end of the street.

















Yup...at this point it was still okay with me (do you see how deep it is??)

And now, with full abandon and permission from their (now oh so fun) mom:

Time for a change of clothes and hot chocolate! :)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a WONDERFUL Sunday! :)
Crystal