Embellish for the Holidays with Santa Express Collection

Hi there! I'm sure many of you are already in the midst of prepping up for the upcoming Christmas celebration. While some of you plan ahead, there are those of us who love the last minute rush, much like me. I thought I would show you a couple of quick ideas on how you can decorate and embellish everyday items using the Santa Express Collection.

Santa Express Treat Bags
So for those of us 11th hour folks, here's a little something that's a fast favorite for all of us, party bag toppers! :) I have two options here, one that can be used with a lunch bag or the ever popular clear bags. and if you are adventurous enough, these nifty toppers can even be transformed into a little something more, ornaments! :)

Some Close Ups

Materials Used:

4437: christmas mini clothespins

4385: santa express 6x6 paper pad

4373: santa express icon sticker

4365: santa express this & that sticker 

4453: ladybug doilies

4456: limeade doilies

Santa Express Napkin Rings
Hi there! Sharm here to share more Christmas inspiration using the Santa Express collection. This is one of my favorites considering Mrs Clause is in it! :)

Here's one way you can use the collection for a project of multiples, napkin rings

Some Closeups

How To:

1) Cut patterned paper to 2x6

2) Embellish the centre to your heart's desire!

Materials Used:

4361: christmas tags craft kit

4365: santa express this & that sticker 

4373: santa express icon sticker

4374: santa express fancy frill sticker 

4385: santa express 6x6 paper pad

4437: christmas mini clothespins

Frosty Friends: Double Snow Globe Inspiration

We are excited to feature two amazing ideas today on the blog featuring "Snow Globes". Both Sharm and Amanda created a couple of darling projects with the new Frosty Friends Collection. You will want to share these to copy for later!!

Snow Globe Window Cards 
by Amanda Coleman

Christmastime is (sort of) almost here and that means it's time to start cranking out holiday cards.  Inspired by the snow globe sticker in the Frosty Friends collection, I made a trio of bright and happy snow globe window cards to send to friends and family this Christmas season.

Is there anything cuter than a Doodlebug snowman?  I used the adorable die cut snowmen from the Mix & Match Snowmen Craft Kit as the focal point of each of these snow globe window cards.

I started with a card base and die cut a circle in the front of the card.  I then trimmed a white panel and die cut a circle slightly larger than the one in the card so it would create a nice border around the snow globe.

Each card has a complete scene on the inside.  I adhered a piece of patterned paper on the inside of the card and then trimmed a piece of sugar coated cardstock to create the snow.  I assembled and adhered the snowman to the background and added some fun sticker details.

I die cut the snow globe bases from woodgrain patterned paper from the Friendly Forest collection.  As an alternate to die cutting, you can simply cut a strip of patterned paper at an angle.

I chose not to use any foam squares or add any dimensional embellishments on these cards so they would be nice and flat and easy to mail.  If you are giving these cards in person, pop up some elements of the snowman or add some fun embellishments to add texture and dimension to the cards.

Use the print and cut function on your die cutting machine to create a custom sentiment.  Mat your sentiment with cardstock to really make your sentiment pop.  Don't have an electronic die cutting machine?  Bend your clear stamps to follow the lines of a curvy banner.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Amanda

Supplies: 

Frosty Friends collection

Friendly Forest collection woodgrain paper

Doodlebug cardstock

Snow Globe Window Cards 
by Sharm Nidyanadan


Hi there!! Have you seen the Frosty Friends collection yet? Isn't it absolutely adorable?! it reminds me so much of the Animated Movie Frozen! :) What I made using this collection is an altered globe. Looks like my Christimas Tree will have a new addition to it's many ornaments this year!

Here's the globe I created:

Some Close ups

Materials Used:

Item:2991 Doodle Twine - Swimming Pool

Item:4356 frosty forest sugar double-sided cardstock

Item:4376 frosty friends sugar icon sticker

Item:4402 snow flurry sprinkles shapes

Item:4417 frosty dots washi tape

Item:4253 lily white sprinkles vellum

How I Made This:

First, I cut out a 4."circle from the patterned paper

Then I embellished it by creating a snow background and added the other stickers

I used washi tape to secure the globe together

Tied some twine on the top

Hope you'll give this a go! :)

Santa Express: Tags and Card Inspiration

Hello there! Sharm here to share some tags for inspiration this Christmas featuring the new Santa Express Collection. I think these also add up as perfect Secret Santa Tags instead of the usual tags that adorn gifts..Use them any way you like it, tags are always fun to make! Be sure to keep scrolling to see the peek-a-book cards I created as well. 

Here they are, I used a Silhouette cut file for the tag shape and then embellished with Doodlebug Embellishments:

Close Ups

Materials Used:

Item:4337 very merry double-sided cardstock 

Item:4341 sweet santas double-sided cardstock

Item:4347 evergreens double-sided cardstock

Item:4361 christmas tags craft kit 

Item:4373 santa express icon sticker

Peek-a-Book Cards

Some Close Ups

Materials Used:

Item:4340 merry mistletoe double-sided cardstock

Item:4343 christmas confetti double-sided cardstock

Item:4373 santa express icon sticker 

Item:4374 santa express fancy frill sticker 

How I Made This:

First, Cut a cardstock to 4x12

Fold in Half

For the Top of the card into another half

Cut out another cardstock to 4x6

Embellish and adhere on top of card (on the folded side)

On the inside of the card, create a border which will act like a stand

Your easel card is done! :)

Easy isn't it! Happy Crafting & Merry Christmas Lovelies!! 

Friendly Forest: From Cards to Mini Albums

Hello Doodlebuggers!  Amanda here today with a trio of happy fox cards.  Gone are the days of saving my favorite supplies for "later".  It would be a disservice to leave these little foxes hidden away in their packages.

The Friendly Forest collection is full of sweet, happy critters, but the little orange fox is my favorite.  He can be found as a Doodlepop, cardstock sticker, and journaling card (and on a ton of patterned paper).

This little fox says, "Hello!"  I layered several patterned paper rectangles and added some stickers.  Keeping your embellishments within the same color scheme will help create a cohesive look on your card.

I love the shine and dimension of the Sprinkles leaves.  They make a perfect accent for any card or page.  

Eye-catching cards don't have to be complicated.  Add a journaling sticker and some chipboard alphas on top of a piece of patterned paper and you're done.  Add some fun detail by adding a stitched border.

Doodlebug's new big Chippers letters aren't for scrapbook pages only--they are perfect for creating bold sentiments on cards, too.

For the third card, I created a little scene using the Friendly Forest 6x6 pad and stickers.  The rich colors in this collection are a feast for the eyes.

The little Doodlepop fox is my favorite.  I popped up a couple of trees with foam to add some dimension to the card.

Happy Fall!

Amanda

Supplies: Doodlebug Friendly Forest collection, Chippers

Autumn Mini Album 
by Sharm 

Hello! Hello! Isn't the Friendly Forest line by Doodlebug Designs absolutely adorable? I love the little squirrels, fox..why just about everything! When i saw the whole collection all I thought was how well everything goes so well together. Almost like a family, together.

So I went about creating this little accordion piece that measures 4x4 when closed. It works out well as both, a deco piece and a mini album.

Here's how it looks

Materials Used:

Item:4335 forest friends double-sided cardstock

Item:4360 mini leaves & acorns craft kit

Item:4364 friendly forest this & that sticker 

Item:4370 friendly forest icon sticker

Item:4371 friendly forest fancy frill sticker

Assorted Projects 
by Courtney Lee

HELLOOOOOO out there! Are you LOVING Friendly Forest!?!? This is definitely one of my favorite collections of the year! I couldn't stop making things with it!!!

Court from Court's Crafts here to show you some versatility with this line! I used it for a card, a garland, and cable identification! Yep, 3 projects - one post! Enjoy! :) 

Project 1: Fall Family Card

This is a legal sized card as I wanted the height of the tree and the falling leaves to be the overall feeling. 

 I wanted to get a "sentiment" in there even though the background is full of words. I anchored it in the pile of leaves with a paperclip as well as the acorn from the icons. Check out the polka dots on the brown sprinkled shape leaf at the bottom... Lovin' that leaf. 

Okay, I admit it... This fat-headed owl was part of the Ghouls and Goodies collection... but he was just TOO darling!!! 

Ummm... HELLOOO sprinkled shapes!!!! These little leaves are so yummy!! And the pics of them don't do their mini-prints justice so I thought I would get you a few close-ups. Aren't the checkers on the orange one SO darling!?! 

Polka dots on the purple ones? Yes, indeedy. And just in case you thought the gloss was something I added, it's not! They come that way! Glossy goodness.

 Grab some. You will LOVE them! Spoiler alert: they came out with both of the Christmas lines too!!! :) 

Project 2: Leaf Garland

Isn't this so super pretty? And you know what?! It took absolutely. no. work. 

Here is the product that I simply pulled out of their die cut edges and sewed in a line... seriously. It retails for $3.99 and took all of 5 minutes to make. My kind of home decor!  

See those stitched lines around the edges of the leaves? They come printed on. love. it.

Here is how large it is all sewn together! Emmaline wants it for her door but we'll see... Mommy wants to put it on the mantle! 

Another close up!

Project 3: Okay... I know I got carried away... Cable Identification.

So.... do any of you have husbands that steal your power cords, etc.? Ugh. Mine. Steals. Mine. All. The. Time... It drives me nuts! Whenever your phone is fully charged there are chargers everywhere and the minute you need one - cannot be found!

Well, my husband claims he never takes mine... now we'll know!

I added this simple touch of washi tape to give it some fall flair! I LOVE IT!!! I am totally going to change these out for the seasons and do different designs on them! So fun and SO fast!

Earbuds: cute-ified. Love.

I had a thicker band on the computer charger so I decided to use a wider one. Aren't the polka dots cute!?

So... One of the best things about doodlebug washi tape is the different widths! You can see them all in perspective here. The bands at the top of the tags let you know how thick they are and what the washi tape looks on a white background. :)

Close up of the cuteness. :) They are so happy! :) My mom already asked if I could do hers so I brought some washi tape over and put it around hers too! :)

So... I just got the new iPhone6 and found this case... in classic doodlebug color: swimming pool blue.. :) Of course I had to pick that one! Now... I can match the washi tape to my phone!!! :)

Fall Family Card
bugs used:
doodlebug: friendly forest: fun with fall (4336)
doodlebug: friendly forest: fall forest (4330)
doodlebug: friendly forest: forest friends (4335)
doodlebug: friendly forest: sprinkles shapes: falling leaves (4398)
doodlebug: ghouls and goodies: mini doodle-pops: lil' owls (4421)
doodlebug: friendly forest: this and that (4364)
doodlebug: friendly forest: icons (4370)
doodlebug: friendly forest: mini paperclips: fall (4492)

Leaf Garland
bugs used:
doodlebug: friendly forest: mini leaves and acorns (4360)

Cable Identification
bugs used:
doodlebug: friendly forest: washi tape: autumn stripe (4410)
doodlebug: friendly forest: washi tape: colors of fall (4408)