Christmas tree decorations! Christmas Challenge week 3!

It's week three of the Sizzix Christmas Challenge 2014! And it is Tree Decorations! So I decided to do a large bubble with a decorated inside.

For this third Christmas Challenged I used:

Thinlits™ Die Set 9PK - Winter Borders & Rosette by Paula Pascual 659978
Thinlits™ Die Set 9PK - Christmas Phrase Cards by Paula Pascual 659973
Framelits Die Set 8PK - Circles #2 658604
Bigz Die - Ribbon, 3-D 658978

And I used the free downloadable papers from Sizzix, click here for the link.

I started by die cutting the rosette from the Winter Borders & Rosette set. I die cut two strips and covered the back with washi tape to make sure that the perforating lines don't brake. (They usually don't, but if you live in a very dry place or have the heating up as I do, the fibers are more brittle and tend to break much easily than they should.)
I cut the strips to be five pointers each amd making sure that one of the ends ended in a W and the other on a M. Then I linked those to create a lampshade sort of shape.

I die cut two circles using the medium circle die included in the set. I placed a bop of  hot glue in the center of one and pressed down on the rosette. then I used another circle to secure it in place.

I used a double sided adhesive sheet from Stix2 on white paper and die cut it using the larger circle die from the Winter Borders & Rosette set. I removed the backing of and placed the white paper die cut snowflake (also from the Winter Borders & Rosette). Then I dumped in my gold flake tub and rub any excess off - To see more of this technique click here.

I finished it off layering it with circles die cut from the Circles #2 set. On the opposite side I die cut the word peace from the Christmas Phrase Cards and snowflakes. Then I placed it on a plastic bubble and pour chunky matte glitter. Finally I added a die cut bow, embellishments from the Hobby House and a ribbon loop.

And there it is...

Soft Christmas Tree Decoration!

Heart Garland

I am wrapping up my last few packages! This is a record for me- I am usually still working on it late into Christmas Eve... but this year we had Christmas early because the kids were heading out on various trips. What a nice feeling not to rush!

Here's a project showing another use for the Sizzix Create-A-Bow die.

I used the three different sized loops of the Sizzix Bow die to make a Heart Garland.  They are so simple and a great project to make while watching TV or talking on the phone.

1. For each heart, you will need to die cut two sets of the small, medium, and large strips from a medium weight cardstock. If you go too heavy, the paper will be stiff and hard to bend (but you can train the paper to bend by curling it with a dowel or pen). If you use text weight, the paper will not hold the shape of the heart. What I used was a 65 lb. cardstock.
2. Line up a stack of strips: long, medium, short.
3. Insert a brad into each hole on one end the paper strips to create the first loop of the heart. Then take the other end of the short strip and put through the brad, then medium, then long. You have a loop! Now make another loop (in reverse order) and add to the brad, then close the prongs.
4. Connect the hearts using a glue dot.
5. At the end of the strand, punch a hole on the outer heart strip. Thread yarn, twine or hemp through the hole from inside the heart and use the other end to anchor the garland. 

I also made some fun ornaments for the tree. Experiment with the loops to make different shapes- this is a really versatile die! And you can always use it as a bow for packages too!

Jennifer McGuire has come out with her list of Favorite Crafty Things- Die Cutting and my 3D Bow die made her list! She even did a very nice tutorial on how to assemble the bow. Thanks Jennifer! 

I think it's around the 8:30 minute mark. But watch it all- she is great.

Here's another video by cutsathome.com showing how to assemble two versions of the bow.

Thanks for stopping by. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all... See you in 2013!