Sunday, September 11, 2011

Love Lives Here for the Holidays

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year.

What? It's September and Christmas is months away? Nah, not at Papertrey Ink. September kicks off our creative holiday season for a few months. And I'm here today with my first group project of the release. We're featuring the new Love Lives Here: Holiday. It's just as fabulous as the original in all it's vintage, homespun glory. And dies! Oh good gravy...the dies. The dies are always the cherry on the sundae, right?

Now, one of my favorite parts of the holidays is the ornaments on our tree. Pulling each one out of the box conjures up certain, specific memories for me. And every year, starting just about now, the kids and I stop by Hallmark every time we're at the mall so we can start planning which ornaments we are going to buy. It's our tradition to buy one special ornament per family member every year. Hank LOVES deciding on which one is going to be his. It is quite the decision.


The beloved ornament idea got me thinking about the type of project I wanted to create for today. It would be really neat to make a commemorative yearly ornament to hand out as gifts. And every year, you'd make a new one. With a good stamp set (like Love Lives Here: Holiday), you could have enough different shapes and sentiments to keep them unique for a few years. Perfect.


Now, I have a little trick with chipboard to make sturdy, long lasting ornaments.. Using dies (such as this angel die), cut multiples out of thin chipboard. The thickness of a cereal box. Or, if you are super duper thrifty, there is absolutely no reason not to use a cereal box for this project. For my ornaments, I used six layers of chipboard and one layer of cardstock. The result is an 1/4" thick die cut shape. Sturdy enough to hold up for years. Fabulous. I used spray adhesive to evenly coat them with sticky stuff before stacking them together to dry.


After that, I stamped my pieces, aged them with vintage ink, and tied a ribbon in the hole. When Tag Sale #4 came out, everybody commented on how it looked like a Christmas ornament. I just went with that and used it here. Both sides are stamped. And I included the year to date the ornament (Library Ledger Year Additions) and a sentiment (Faux Ribbon seemed to fit my needs nicely). Subsequent years will have the appropriate date to make them more commemorative. Can you tell how sturdy these are? Isn't that angel great?



I packaged one ornament in a clear card box and embellished the front. I wanted to make it look like the ornament was hanging from a tree branch. Maile's new Bells & Boughs suited just fine.


Up close of the label. Lisa's new Christmas labels are perfect for longer sentiments.



Just a little shot of the contents of the box. I made a little patterned paper filler box on the bottom to take up some space and make it seem more professional.


And of course, we've got to have a matching card. I used this Impression Plate technique to block the embossing from the Impression Plate. It helps mimic and reinforce the ornament theme.

Hope you enjoyed my project and are inspired to start thinking about Christmas gifts. It really is just around the corner. For more ideas, blog hop over to my esteemed colleagues virtual homes and see what they are up to using Love Lives Here: Holiday. Guaranteed to blow you away.


Nichole Heady
Jessica Witty
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Heather Nichols
Lisa Johnson
Melissa Phillips
Michelle Wooderson
Maile Belles
Danielle Flanders



Supplies

Box

Stamps: Love Lives Here Holiday, Christmas Labels, Bells & Boughs
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Autumn Rose, Scarlet Jewel, Vintage Cream
Patterned Paper: Pacific Vineyard
Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Ripe Avocado and Fresh Snow
Ribbon: Bitty Dot Autumn Rose
Versamark

Card

Stamps: Loves Lives Here, Christmas Label, Faux Ribbon
Vineyard Impression Plate
Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon
Edgers Dies #4
Spring Moss, Autumn Rose, Scarlett Jewel, Vintage Cream Cardstock
Love Lives Here Dies
Christmas Label Die
Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado, Scarlet Jewel, and Fresh Snow Ink

Ornament

Stamps: Love Lives Here: Holiday, Faux Ribbon, Library Ledger: Year Additions
Vintage Cream Cardstock
Scarlet Jewel, Dark Chocolate, and Ripe Avocado ink
Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon
Cardstock
Dies: Love Lives Here: Holiday, Tag Sale #4, Love Lives Here


43 comments:

  1. Very impressive! Love the ornaments!

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  2. OMG, Erin!!!! This is SUCH a FABULOUS idea!! I was never much in love with that Tag Sale #4 die, but now I'm DYING to have it! ;) Such a great gift idea...I can't wait to try this! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  3. Oh. My. Goodness. Erin!! These are stunning. I don't just love the idea of creating keepsakes, I ADORE IT!! And the colours you've used are so warm and heartfelt and fabulous!! Thank you for sharing all your tips and techniques - I definitely want to have a go at this. Oh this release is really going to hurt the purse, I can just feel it. :) xxxx

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  4. OMG. I can't say any more. This is the best preview ever.

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  5. I'm speechless! Okay, not really but I am totally smitten and don't know where to begin! :) I adore your angel ornament and the coordinating card is fabulous! I have a primitive angel collection and this die is not calling, but screaming my name! Heehee! Now, I'm going to have to re-design my holiday cards! Certainly I will not be able to resist using this angel die! THANKS for sharing your inspiring projects, Erin! :)

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  6. OH MY GOODNESS ~~ I have craft spray so I guess I only need stamps and dies and boxes ........ good thing I already have the spray :) Seriously so beautiful and uber creative!!!

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  7. Absolutely wonderful! Just what I needed to see to justify buying another set of Christmas stamps!!!

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  8. Oh my Erin!! I had never thought of making layers of the chipboard to make a thicker ornament!! Your projects are wonderful!

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  9. Oh wow love love love your post, your ornaments are divine, i can imagine a whole line of angels in banner form hanging around our house. Thanks

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  10. Oh my Goddess! You are such an amazing creative spirit Erin. This project and matching card is outstanding. I don't make Christmas cards but these ornaments have sucked me in, and I had no need of the tag die before now. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible post with us. You rock.

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  11. LOVE your beautiful angel ornament, Erin! What a wonderful Christmas gift this would make!

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  12. I really didn't think I would want this set...until I saw what you did with it!!! I absolutely LOVE the ornament that you made! And the matching card, gorgeous!!

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  13. You are one of the smartest stampers out there! I knew you wouldn't disappoint with this release! I really love your packaging the most. Very professional.

    Helen

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  14. Theses are beyond brilliant Erin! Took my breath away!

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  15. Excellent! What a wonderful gift! LOVE the ornament and your card.

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  16. Very imaginative way to make nice thick ornaments! They'll make wonderful gifts!

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  17. Great ornament idea! I'm teaching my 9 year old grand-daughter to recycle when crafting. She uses cereal boxes all the time and is going to love this one! Thanks

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  18. Erin...these are gorgeous!!! Love the idea of giving an ornament..I used to do that and got out of it...thanks! (You should see my "hoarded boxes" Jimmy Dean breakfast bowls are wonderful for repurposing with me getting the board and the cats getting a new bowl each day. Now I am doing low carb so I am way low on those bowls and boxes LOL...love your ideas...enjoy your humor too!!!!

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  19. These ornaments are gorgeous! Love the angel. Thank you for the reminding of the video :)

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  20. ERIN!! This is bee. yoo. tee. full! Seriously, the project is fabulous & clever and I love the colors you chose!

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  21. Such a beautiful ornament and your packaging is incredible! TFS!

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  22. DITTO, what everyone else has said!!! Your idea, your ornament, your card and your packaging are totally amazing! I can't wait to order and get started on my own for Christmas. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration!

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  23. I really like your color choices and the Christmas ornament idea. Great job!

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  24. Oh WOW, Erin! Such a beautiful set of ornaments! I just love the colors you chose and the Vineyard Impression plate paired with this set...all of my favorite (and soon to be favorite) things in one spot!

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  25. Just found you blog and I am thrilled!! I ADORE your angel ornament. I have been thinking of doing that each year but never start early enough. Guess I missed it...can you tell me the company that makes this die, both the angel and ornament? Do the stamps coordinate with this die? I am a new follower, don't want to miss any of your projects. I you have a minute you might want to visit my blog:
    www.u-inspire-me.blogspot.com Keep in mind that the current DT that I am designing for is not my usual style of crafting :) Have a wonderful week. Barbara

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  26. This is just so gorgeous - love your ornament!

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  27. Beautiful!!! You are always thinking outside of the box...I love it!

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  28. Brilliant Erin! Your ornaments are more beautiful than any ornament I've ever seen or purchased at Hallmark. If I saw then in a store i would have to buy them.

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  29. Loved your card and the great ornament!! Love how you made the ornament thicker (thanks for the tutorial!!)

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  30. Oh my goodness. LOVE the ornament! What a brilliant idea, and so beautifully done. Thanks for sharing!

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  31. Oh, Erin. What a beautiful post today. I love your ideas and your color combo! This is the best of the bunch!

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  32. This is absolutely gorgeous Erin, wow, I love it!! Can't wait to try it! And your aging technique is FABULOUS, maybe one day you could share how you do it and which ink you used. ;) Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful project with us!! Just amazing!

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  33. Hi Erin! Simply stunning and your post sold me on this set. Can't wait to give this a try. Hope you are doing well. Heather J.

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  34. Absolutely, positively beautiful! I love your ideas. Thanks

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  35. Wow, Erin! I guess I get the part about you being a professional designer an all, but I am blown away! I can hardly wait to come up with my own design for a commemorative tree ornament for friends and family! Our favorite Christmas tradition is getting out the ornaments together and remembering and laughing and sometimes even crying at all the life represented in those little trinkets. This will be a cherished NEW tradition! Thanks for years to come!!!

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  36. LOVE the ornament idea! I think I just found this year's gift for all my staff, family and friends...THANKS for being so inspiring!

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  37. Love Love Love this ornament idea. It turned out SO NICE. Great Idea and I will have to get Love Lives Here: Holiday stamp and dies

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  38. Thanks so much Erin - I really LOVE the angel ornaments idea :) Makes a perfect gift!

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  39. Hi Erin,

    I just couldn't stop by without saying these coaster/tags are STUNNING!!!!!! Thanks a zillion for your amazing inspiration.

    Keep up the terrific work.

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  40. OH MY those are so beautiful!!!!!! I will have to make some. Rosemary

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  41. Erin, such a fab idea. I have made salt dough ornaments and fimo ones for my nieces and nephews - as I give ornaments to them all each year. Now I can make some this year with chipboard. Thanks for the fab project step by step. Adore what you made.

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