Handmade Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!

Calling all crafters! We've gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could make for the holidays, all in one place on this Hop!

To sweeten to Hop, we're offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you‚ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Below is a photo of the prize Hampton Art is giving away.



Visit the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from! Check out today's blog list:

November 6th Blog Roll:
Clearsnap ˆ http://clearsnap.blogspot.com
Spellbinders http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/Community/Blog.aspx
Hampton Art - http://blog.hamptonart.com/
Zutter ˆ http://binditall.blogspot.com/
Graphic45 ˆ http://g45papers.typepad.com/
Donna Salazar Designs ˆ http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/
The Twinery - http://www.thetwineryblog.com/
Authentique Paper http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/
Glue Arts - http://gluearts.blogspot.com/
Sabrina Alery ˆ Clearsnap http://sabrinaalery.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison ˆ Graphic 45 http://www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com/
Karen Taylor ˆ Donna Salazar Designs - http://creativeyearnings.blogspot.com/
Beverly Sizemore ˆ Hampton Art YOU ARE HERE
Kazan Clark ˆ Spellbinders http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/
Janeen Shember ˆ Authentique Paper http://suburbngypsy.blogspot.com/
Charlotte Jenkins ˆ Clearsnap http://suepup.blogspot.com/
Grace Hester ˆ The Twinery http://gracehester.typepad.com/
Nicole Eccles ˆ Graphic45 http://nicoleeccles.blogspot.com/
Audrey Pettit ˆ Donna Salazar Designs - http://audreypettit.wordpress.com/
Nan Paturzo ˆ Zutter http://scrappynan.blogspot.com/
Jeannie DeGruccio ˆ Authentique Paper http://polkacabana.wordpress.com/
Tamara Tripodi - Glue Arts http://happylifecraftywife.com/

Now let's get started on my fun and basically FREE project. I am always looking for a way to recycle or alter something that I have (plus I have a daughter in college so we are really "pinching pennies" at my house.) :) I have been buying crossiants at the Wal-Mart bakery for several weeks. We like to slice them in half and use for sandwiches. Anyway they are sold in nice clear plastic containers that you can turn into Christmas cookie gift containers. :) First, wash your container and try to peel off as much of the label as possible (all of it won't come off but don't worry, we will cover it up....see the second photo) :)


I used my Sizzix eClips to cut a scalloped white square. This square is going to be our "stamping base." (see the next two photos) I used Hampton Art's Snowman Set for this project. I heat embossed the snowman with black embossing powder.


Next stamp the sentiment twice using a Clearsnap's ColorBox by Stephanie Barnard in Strawberry and in Spearmint. You are going to cut the sentiments into pieces and mat.

Once you heat emboss your snowman, do some coloring with markers. :)

I also used Hampton Art's Very Merry Borders on my "free" cookie gift container. You are going to stamp the border four times. Trim it closely to adhere to the bottom SIDEs of the container.


Next get out your pretty ribbon. I used a bright red gingham to wrap around the upper sides plus made a bow for the top of the container.

The last two photos show my "basically free" cookie container loaded with yummy M&M
cookies. How easy was that and don't forget....nearly free. Wink. :) I've got several of these containers washed and saved. I'll spend an afternoon stamping and getting them ready for Christmas. They'll make pretty "cookie containers" to give to neighbors and friends that you want to do a "little" something for. So there you have my "handmade holiday" gift project. Thanks for visiting my blog and if I don't "see" you again before the 25th....Happy Holidays! :) (AND don't forget to leave me a comment for a chance to win some of the neat prizes....good luck!) :)