Visions of Sugarplums 2014 Day One

It's Visions of Sugarplums time!  So glad you're here!  Visions of Sugarplums comes from, of course, Clement Clarke Moore's A Visit from St. Nicholas (or The Night Before Christmas).  It's always been a favorite and when Lauren was little, we always read it before putting out Santa's cookies and milk. 

Visions of Sugarplums brings to mind all kinds of goodies that only come around once a year.  I can't believe this is the 4th annual Visions of Sugarplums.  Time sure flies when you're having fun!    Part of the fun is visiting all the blogs and all the giveaways.  More about that later.  Let's get right to the projects.  Today I've got a couple of cute treat packages and one fun ornament featuring Free Pretty Things for You and The Cutting Cafe.

To kick things off, I've got a couple of sweet projects with a darling vintage Christmas image that Keren from Free Pretty Things for You and I are sharing with you.  Above I've used a gusseted pocket (that I really like) and you can see the measurements and instructions HERE.   The paper for this pocket is from Digital Work.  She is offering Visions of Sugarplums readers a 50% discount at her store.  Use code:  HOLIDAY50.  The discount is good through December 31st.  Thank you so much, Leska!

We also have the kids available with a snowflake background and I used it to make a dome shaker ornament.

It's quick and easy to put together.  Here's how:

I printed the image (on sturdy 110lb paper) so the circle would match the size of the dome (half an ornament).  Then I cut it with a scallop circle die.  I wanted the background to be glittery so I painted glue around the kids and sprinkled on the glitter.

Next, the I adhered the flag on the image making sure it was inside where the dome would 
need to sit.  The shaker goodies are a combination of snowflake and tree sequins, glitter and mica flakes.  I just piled it in the middle so it would also be out of the way.  I used Aleene's glue to secure the dome to the image.

Lastly I wrapped twine around the dome (used Aleene's for that too).  It is so cute - love those sweet kids bringing home their tree.  You can download both versions for free below.

ETA:  The link has changed as of 1-15-17.  Download the kids with blue circle background and kids only HERE.

Dropbox works seems to work differently for different people.  When image appears, click download button in top right corner.  If download button does not appear. right click on image and save as.  If neither method works, email me and I'll be happy to send you the image. 

I love PUTZ houses and have a couple of vintage ones.  I used them as my inspiration to make my pink and mint green Putz-like house.  I didn't want just a house though, I wanted a treat holder too. I used the 3D House from The Cutting Cafe.   Regina has taken part in Visions of Sugarplums from the beginning.  Be sure to check out the huge collection of cut files at The Cutting Cafe. Thank  you for your generosity, Regina!

I used the small house size (the files come in electronic cut file and pdf as well).  I die cut a star in the gable (one of my Putz houses has a star cut out).  Here you can see the side pieces already glued to the back.

Next I assembled the house and roof.  See notes on roof below.  

I wanted the roof to come off easily.  So I added a score on the opposite end of the roof exactly the same as the score on the left side.  I also added some scallops.  I covered the whole thing with a rectangle that is an 1 1/4" longer and 1/2" wider than the roof.   The tabs go down in the house.  

I had a white tree, but not a pink tree.  I wanted a pink tree.  So I remembered this tinsel glitter that  I have.  I wasn't sure it would work, but it made a really pretty pink tree!  I covered the tree in Elmer's and then sprinkled on the glitter.  Pretty in Pink!

I covered the whole entire thing in course glitter. 

Here you can see the lid off and candy inside.

Moonlighting by Mary - one digital set of your choice
Studio Shine Vintage - one digital set of your choice
Kitty Bee Designs - one digital design of your choice
Cameo Shoppe - 4X4 Christmas Cards
The Cutting Cafe -  3 sets of choice + 3D House

These are some of my favorite shops!  Thank you so much to all of them for participating in Visions of Sugarplums!

Lori's Day One Mini Giveaway:

Winners of these giveaways will be announced tomorrow.

In your comment, please let me know that you would like to win.  Comment here and then comment on all the participating blogs listed below.  Your name will go in a hat (or basket or bowl) for your comment here.  You will also get your name put in additional times for each comment left on the other blogs.  When the prizes for one day are won, those names are taken out, but all the other names stay in the hat.  

Be sure to check back daily to see if you have won!

The Mega Giveaway grows every day and the winner will be announced Saturday, December 6th.  Everything shown in this section every day will be a part of the Mega Giveaway.  Here is the first picture:

   Char

   Lisa

   Ira

   Sandy

   Regina

Have fun visiting these lovely ladies' blogs!  And a big thank you to them for participating in Visions of Sugarplums!

Come back tomorrow for lots more 

Visions of Sugarplums!

Christmas in July Day 2

Hurray, for Christmas in July!  It's got me thinking early about Christmas presents.  Maybe this year I'll get done before Christmas Eve.  The problem is that I usually think of some cool project to make about December 22nd.  I always wonder why I didn't think of it sooner.  I also think Christmas in July is working it's magic on the weather.  This is usually one of the hottest weeks of the year for us, but amazingly we are going to have 70 degree weather this week!!  I can't believe it - but I love it!

I've got a card and an ornament to share today.  Keren has the sweetest Christmas images at Free Pretty Things for You.  Isn't this the cutest manger scene?

I used microfine glitter and colored on top of it.  You can see a complete tutorial on that technique in my post HERE.  I printed Rejoice in gray on vellum and cut a band for my card.  I also tucked a gold mini cupcake liner underneath.  

You can download this oh, so sweet image HERE.

For the ornament, I'm using the red version of Little Miss Christmas.  You can see more about Little Miss Christmas in yesterday's post.  

The ornament is very easy to make.

You need white sticky back vinyl.  You can find it several places including the Silhouette store and amazon.  I like the glass ornaments for this - you could use the completely round ones - this one is kind of flat.  I used a large Martha Stewart punch, but you could use dies or an electronic cutter too.  

For this particular punch, I needed two to make a complete snowflake.  Then I had to cut away the excess from around the punch.  Peel off the vinyl and press to the ornament. 

It's filled with little white pompoms.  I'm thinking you could also fill this with red and green M&Ms for a treat ornament.  What other ideas do you have to fill the ornament?

 Little Miss Christmas is tied on with twine - wrapped a couple of times around the top.  You can download the red version of her HERE.  Visit Free Pretty Things for You for the magenta version.  I'm showing a project with her tomorrow.

You can see the first part of the Christmas in July present in yesterday's post.  I'm adding a kit for the Little Miss Christmas ornament to the giveaway.  To win, leave me a comment letting me know that you want to win.  Be sure to also comment on all three posts.  Comment by  11:59 p.m. Friday and I'll announce the winner on Saturday, July 19th.

Hope you are enjoying a little Christmas in July.  See you tomorrow for Day 3!