Origami Christmas Tree

A BIG thanks again to my sister CARLA for doing up this tutorial.

One of my friends showed me how to make these origami Christmas trees and I thought they just looked the cutest! They might look difficult, but once you make one, you'll be hooked

Start with 4 small squares cut from double-sided patterned paper.
3x3, 2.5x2.5, 2x2, and 1.5x1.5
Working with one square at a time, fold in half diagonally. Unfold and do the other diagonal as well. You should end up with something like this: Now comes the tricky part With your fingers on 4 of the corners, squish the edges in to form a triangle Here is the bottom view:Now, take one flap of the triangle and fold it down lining up at the center, kinda like making a paper airplane. Repeat for the other flap. This is what it should look like: Repeat this for the other 3 squares:Add a glue dot to the tip of each piece and join the 4 pieces together.
The finished product:
Add this to a card or a layout. You can make this as big or small as you want. Embellish as desired.

Here's a card Carla made... ...and one that I did.

Christmas Planner

*Thanks to my sister CARLA for doing up this tutorial. I took the pics, she wrote it up!! That's what sisters are for!!!

I started with a manilla file folder that was 15 inches long. Cut 4 inches off the bottom of the folder. If you use a shorter folder,
just make sure the length is 11 inches. Trim off the tabs.

Once the tabs are cut off, you will notice the edges of the folder don't match up. Unfold and then fold BACK in the center.
Use your bone folder to get a good crease. Next, fold the front and back pieces towards the center fold. You should end up
with a fold shaped like a "W". Mark and fold the bottom edge UP 3 inches, like this:
Now it's time to decorate For the inside, cut 4 pieces of pp 4" x 7.5" and 4 pieces of pp 4" x 2.75". You can round the edges
and ink if desired. Open up the bottom fold and adhere the larger pp first, then the smaller pieces. On the two outside edges
of the "pocket", use sticky tape to adhere.
You can add some stamped images or other embellishments at this point.
For the front cover, I used a 4"x7.5" piece of pp with a strip across the center. I added ribbon, title and rubon BEFORE I
adhered it to the cover. For the back, cut and adhere another 4"x7.5" piece of patterned paper. Next is a receipt holder. I used a business sized envelope (9.5in long). Seal the envelope and cut 3 inches off one end. Cut
another piece of pp, 3.75" x 6.25" (or, I used 2 pieces of pp scraps). Use a circle punch on the front of the envelope (open it up first!)
Cut a small piece of scrap to tuck inside the envelope.
NOTE: If you use a regular sized envelope, seal and trim a small bit off one end. Your top piece of pp will be 3.5"x 6.25"
Tuck receipt holder inside one of the "pockets". I added a tag with "receipts" on it.
You can find print-outs to use in your planner HERE, at Organized Christmas LOTS of forms to choose from. Print them on
cardstock and cut to fit your folder. Mine were cut 7.25" x 3". And there you have it! Your own folder to help with all your holiday planning! I used a bulldog clip to hold mine together,
although you could add an eyelet to the front and back page and thread ribbon to hold it closed OR used elastic ribbon
around the whole thing.
We'd LOVE to see your creations!!

Pocket Card

Pocket Card
1.Cut an 8 inch diameter circle template. I find that starting with a template and playing with that helps me as I don't end up "ruining" a sheet of patterned paper. Mark the template as shown. To get the middle line (that is not quite the center of the circle, fold as shown below.
To form the pocket, fold over each edge as shown below.

2.Once you're familiar with the template, then go ahead and cut it out on your patterned paper.
3.Use the template to help you mark the back of your patterned paper.
4.Here's the patterned paper folded and inked along the edges.

5. After you have it folded, mark the places where you will punch the holes to tie it together. Then punch the holes as shown below.

6.Tie the ribbon through the holes and make a bow. Then decorate the front of the card.
7. Now you can create a bookmark for the inside of the card. Cut a piece of matching cardstock
2 1/2 in. X 5 1/2 in. Decorate as desired.8. Place the bookmark inside the card. If you like ,you can tape a gift card on the back of the bookmark :o)
...and there you have it, a pocket card! Enjoy!

Spa Simplicity - Body Lotion

Today I thought I'd share some other little gifts I make each year for Christmas.

This one is for Body Lotion, and it is very easy to make, and fun to 'alter' the little bottles with all your little scraps :)


Also, keep watching for more little gifts for the 'Spa' :)



Body Lotion
(makes 16 ounces)

Ingredients:


1 bottle unscented white body lotion, such as shea butter
Cosmetic- grade soap fragrance
Cosmetic-grade soap colorant
3 small plastic squeeze bottles (4 ounces each)


Directions:

Carefully squeeze unscented lotion into each small bottle, filling halfway. Add 1 drop of fragrance, and 1 drop of colorant. Carefully fill bottles almost to the top. Seal with cap, and shake well to blend in scent.


You can use different scents and colours with the same unscented lotion to make a rainbow of lotions for little gifts.


Tamara...

Quick Fudge Recipe

I thought I'd add something a little sweet and easy today.

Here is a recipe for Quick Microwave Fudge, and I've never had a batch fail! :)

Microwave Fudge:

3 cups Chocolate Chips
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup Butter
tsp. Vanilla

In a microwave safe bowl combine chocolate chips, milk and butter, stir and microwave on MEDIUM heat for 5 minutes, giving it a stir now and then.

Then add the vanilla and mix until the batter becomes silky and a bit stiff, a couple of minutes. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan and chill until set.

Cut into bite sized pieces and serve.

Variations:

You can use White chips, Peanut Butter chips and Butterscotch chips, as long as you have 3 cups.
Also, 1/2 cup of nuts can be tossed in the batch as well

Crushed Candy Cane is nice with White Chocolate.

Have fun :)

*edited to add a pic of the Fudge my son and his friends made to sell at his school.They donated the money to a children's charity.
Deanne

Christmas Card with a Pocket!

Thanks so much to JEN of Scrap Shotz who graciously gave me permission to post this idea on the blog!! She posted this idea a couple of weeks ago at a crop and I LOVED it!

Materials you will need:

8 1/2 X 11 sheet of cardstock

Pieces of matching patterned paper

...and your regular supplies like trimmer, scissors, adhesive

...and any embellishments you will want to decorate (ribbon, brads, glitter, stickers, flowers, etc...

1.FOLD and CUT your cardstock as shown on the photo.

2. So, it will look like this (GREEN PIECE) after you have it CUT.The other piece can be used for the bookmark later.3.FOLD the triangular piece toward the back and the top piece down.4. Now flip the card over and you will see the "pocket" that will be formed by the triangular piece......and you can also see how the card will stand (like a portrait)
5. Your next step is to glue down the BOTTOM of the triangular flap to create the "pocket". This is where the bookmark will slide in.6.Now it's your turn to get all fancy-schmancy and decorate your card and bookmark! Have fun! The bookmark was cut 3 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. but you can make it thinner and longer if you wish! Totally up to you!

Of course, this card can be used for ANY holiday or occasion! Can't you see this as a great "get well" card tucked inside a book for a friend who has been feeling a little "under the weather"? She can use the bookmark as she's reading her book.
Let us know if you try it! We'd LOVE to see your card!!