12 Days of Christmas - Day 11 with Melinda

Can you believe it... five more days until Christmas? Are you all prepared, presents wrapped and under the tree, menu planned and baking underway, house decorated with Christmas lights? Hello everyone, it's Melinda with you today and I'm busy with pre-Christmas preparations here on the farm. I promised myself I wouldn't rush around this year so I am taking it easy and only doing what I can get done with the least amount of fuss as possible... so far so good!

This year I decided to make my children a fun little snow-globe to count down the days until Santa arrives and each day they have replaced the little number tag inside and given it a shake to make it snow. Although being from Australia we won't be having a white Christmas, instead we will poolside with cool drinks, seafood, salad and lots of yummy cold sweets.

Here's how I created the Christmas snowglobe:

Step 1.
Using the snowflake stamp from the Doodlebug/Hampton Art clear stamp set, place it onto the white ink pad  (without a stamping plate) and push down until you have a generous coverage.

Step 2.
Place the stamp onto the globe and gentle push down with your fingers and then use the palm of your hand to give it a good push. I don't use a backing plate with the stamp because of the globe's curved surface. I find I get a much better result by simply pushing it down with my hand.

Step 3.
The next step can be done in two ways... either pour your glitter over the stamped area or place your glitter in a tray and gently press your globe into the glitter.

Step 4.
Gently shake off excess glitter and then using a soft bristle paint brush carefully brush away any remaining pieces of glitter. Don't be afraid to brush directly over the glittered image as it will only remove the glitter that hasn't stuck properly. Give your globe a light spray with a firm setting hair spray from approximately 30cm away which will seal the remaining glitter in place and won't come off when the kids pick up the globe to give it a good shake.

Finish your globe by decorating the lower rim and then create number tags to match the size of the template that comes with the globe. Your kids will enjoy being responsible for replacing the little tag each day and as an added bonus you can leave a bowl of chocolates next to the globe so they can enjoy a little treat each day as Christmas gets closer.

I would like to finish by wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year - Melinda

12 Days of Christmas - Day 10 with Stephanie

Hey Doodlebug peeps, it's Stephanie here! We're getting closer, only 6 more days until Christmas!!!! I'm so excited to get the chance to spend some time with our family, it's my favorite time of year.

Nothing gets me in the holiday mood more than using my Christmas stash of goodies, and like I've said before I think the North Pole collection is my all time fave.
Here are some of the things I've been waiting to share with you:

Elf Merry Christmas:

Supply list: Sugar coated Cardstock (lily white dot), pigmented ink pad (beetle black), mini Jewels (ladybug), Icons cardstock stickers (santa's workshop), Doodles cardstock stickers (merry christmas)
 
Mini Snowman Gift tag:

Supply list: mini create-a-card, doodlepops cardstock stickers (snowman), sugar coated cardstock (lily white dot), doodles Cardstock stickers (merry christmas)
Snow Angel Layout:

Supply list: Boutique Brads (happy holiday assortment), Sugar coated cardstock (lily white dot), Braddies (frosty flakes), 6x6 paper pad (North Pole), Headlines cardstock stickers (let it snow), Teensy Type (cupcake), mini jewels (beetle black, cupcake, lily white assortments), Frames Cardstockl Stickers (North Pole), Cardstock alphabet stickers (candy shoppe)

Merry Christmas Card Layout:

Supply List: Double sided cardstock (North Pole), Doodle pops (wreath), Icons cardstock stickers (North Pole), jewels (ladybug, limeade, beetle black assortments), Cardstock Alphabet stickers (shin-dig, candy shoppe, jack & jill)

Merry Christmas Card:

Supply list: Double sided cardstock (North Pole), Cute Cuts (North Pole), Mini Jewels (ladybug)
I hope that helped spread some Christmas Cheer and made you want to break out your Doodlebug North Pole collection. Merry Christmas everyone :)

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8 with Wendy

Hello there, Doodlebug friends!  It’s Wendy Sue here today – sharing a fun little holiday project.  I created this fun glittery snowflake garland using lots of colorful doodlebug supplies.  It was quick and easy – and would have been a great project to do with the kids!

I started by cutting out the snowflake shapes (from white cardstock) with my Silhouette Cameo, but if you don’t have one you could certainly cut them out by hand.  Next, I applied liquid glue with a sponge brush, then sprinkled sugar coating glitter to cover each snowflake.  After each snowflake was dry, I flipped it over and did the back (this step is optional and I probably didn’t need to do it since the back is against the door – but if you were putting it in a window or some other spot where the back was visible, you’d definitely want to cover the back.)

After the glue was dried and the glitter was all cleaned up (I know, who am I kidding…glitter is never completely cleaned up!), I started embellishing the centers of some of my flakes.  Some of them have sweet little snowflake braddies added.  Other have slightly larger, and oh so fun, doodle-pops in the center.

After the embellishments were added, I glued them all to a long piece of doodle twine with a hot glue gun.

…and hung the finished garland on the door.  Now I’m loving how it looks as we add holiday cards to the door, one by one.

One of my favorite things about this banner is that it will remain on this door throughout January, since it’s not necessarily a “holiday"/christmas” ornament – but a colorful WINTER decoration instead!!
Hope your winter is full of glitter and bright colors too!
Supplies:  cardstock: lily white; sugar coated glitter (metallic assortment & glitter assortment); boutique brads (holiday assortment); braddies (frosty flakes); doodle-pops (snowman, mr. penguin, snowflake)

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7 with Kandis

by Kandis Smith

I'm always needing little tags--especially around Christmas time! They are perfect for any gift, goodie bag, or plate of treats. I created these three for some plates I'll be bringing to my neighbors this year--I always like to add a little creative touch to them!

Tags are the easiest to make! You can use some pre-made tags from the office supply store or make your own. I created these with my Silhouette using a tag shape. It was fast and easy--plus the Doodlebug paper comes double sided so you can use either one!

I used the North Pole collection on all of these. The best part is that the collection has it all--diecuts, stickers, letter stickers, pop ups, patterned paper, twine, etc! Everything you need to make a ton of tags!

This is just the beginning for me--I need to make a bunch more! So grab out your collection and get to work--I promise it wont take long!

12 Days of Christmas at Doodlebug - Day 6 with Ro

by Ro Philippsen

For me and my family Christmas is the most magical and the most wonderful time of the year. I have a feeling that when December begins, something really magical surrounds our lives: the magic of Christmas...I really believe that! It is when we gather with family to celebrate peace and love, this is the greatest message we receive from God.

And one of the things I find most symbolic about Christmas is the Advent Calendar, that doing the countdown, we feel the magic taking our hearts day after day.

Every year I like to do a new Advent Calendar, it's like renewing my faith, so this year I decided to do something interesting, I using  empty tape rolls, like the ones you see in the image.

During the year I kept all empty rolls I used, knowing that at some point would use them!
I covered the inside and outside of the rolls with the gorgeous "North Pole" Collection cardstocks, and also applied gesso at the edges.

And then I was just have fun with the amazing Doodlebug "North Pole" Collection and Doodlebug Alphabet Stickers, to create the Advent Calendar this year.

I hope you've enjoyed this inspiration, and wish you all have a Magic and Enchanted Christmas with your family and all the people you love.

Visit Ro's Blog

12 Days of Christmas at Doodlebug - Day 5 with Kathy

Hi Doodlebugs! Kathy Martin here today with a crafty gift tutorial to help with those hard to shop for peeps on your Christmas list. I had always heard that older boys are difficult to shop for but I didn't realize just how much until this year while brainstorming gift ideas for our 11 year old son. Oh boy! I don't want to buy stuff just to have something under the tree and I don't like how boring and impersonal money can be so how about making cash fun to receive by pairing it with candy? You can even throw in a gift card or two for variety.

For today's tutorial I'm going to show you how to make candy bar wrappers for Hershey bars using Doodlebug Design's North Pole collection. I started off cutting some white card stock into 5.5" by 6" pieces, one for each bar. You could also use patterned paper.

Next, you score your card stock using the measurements shown in the photo below.

Once your score marks are made fold your card stock and seal with a piece of double stick tape. Now your bar is like a blank canvas, ready to decorate!

I started accenting my Hershey bars by adding a Fancy Frills scalloped border sticker and a strip of striped patterned paper above that.

Next, I added three tags. Two were ready made Cute Cuts and one was created with a die. If you like texture and detail, laying is a great way to achieve that. Hint: To keep each tag from laying flat against the next, add a little pop dot in between them.

Now have some fun attaching the tags with some bits and baubles. I used Doodle Twine, a Button Boutique button and a jingle bell.

Now that your candy bar is festively decorated, tuck in some cash and place in a container.

I used this pretty red metal bucket purchased from Target's dollar spot. You can decorate your bucket with more tags, twine, buttons and jingle bells to match.

I hope this gift idea has helped you cross off a few names on your Christmas list and gives you more time to kick up your feet, sip some cocoa and relax in front of the tree. Merry Christmas!

Visit Kathy's Blog for More Inspiration

12 Days of Christmas at Doodlebug - Day 4 with Jessy

Hello creative Doodlebug peeps!! Today it's my turn to share with you what I have created for the Doodlebug Christmas Countdown #4. I have created four Christmas cards using the ever cute-fabulous-colorful Doodlebug collection called "North Pole". What I really love is the hint of grey that is in this collection and it worked brilliantly with all the reds & greens!

I have 3 elements that I want to cooperate on these cards. I must include the shape of a circle (or half circle), mini pearls & of course the fabulous color - grey! Just some guidelines for me to create. It doesn't work all the time but at least it helps when I am low with mojo *wink*

Here are my cards using North Pole Collection...

Supply list: North Pole collection (12x12 paper pad, 6x6 paper pad, cute cut, cardstock sticker) Doodles Cardstock Sticker (multicolor merry christmas), Christmas mini pearls & Mini doodle-pops (festive flock). 

Thanks for coming by and I hope you'll get inspired to create your own set of Christmas cards!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas :)

Xoxo Jessy

12 Days of Christmas at Doodlebug - Day 2 with Lori

Here's a fun idea for taking a DVD that you want to give as a gift for the holidays and wrapping it up Doodlebug style. It's easy....

You need to trim two pieces of paper 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" and score them both 1/2" from the bottom edge and round the corners on the top. Then adhere both together to create the "wrap" part of this project. I simply punched a hole in the top and put twine through one hole and a darling brad through the other to keep the wrap closed. If you want more detailed instructions my original post walks you through that. This is a quick project that you can put together in under an hour. I'm thinking it's a great idea for a Gift Exchange too!

Now the pocket requires a pattern and you can find the link to my original DVD Movie Night Wrap on my post today. From that original post there is a printable for the pattern. Sorry for making you go on a hunt, but how else will I get you over to my blog (wink).

 

Have fun embellishing the front of your treat pocket with the fun Doodle-pops and
Cute Cut die cuts as shown here. 

Be sure to go to my blog today to check out the "other" version of this fun project.