The Twelve Days of Gift Tutorials: Day 12
Hello G45ers,
We're counting down the days until Christmas with gorgeous ideas for handmade gifts! Welcome to the final day of the Graphic 45 Twelve Days of Gift Tutorials! We've got more festive holiday inspiration that's sure to brighten your day! We'll be sharing another magnificent card by Gloria Stengel. Then Nichola Battilana is going to share a fun tutorial for creating a beautiful Christmas cracker, complete with a decorative holiday crown! You're going to fall in love with today's amazing crafts! Lets get inspired to make this the best holiday ever with Graphic 45!
Just a reminder, G45ers, today is the last day to enter to win this breathtaking prize pack! Just leave us a blog or Facebook comment for your chance to win this fabulous grand prize that includes our 12 Days of Christmas collection as well as fabulous products from Core'dinations, Xyron, Petallo and Scor-Pal! This amazing prize is worth over $135 and its got everything you need to craft a perfect holiday season! Be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win! A random winner will be announced on our blog tomorrow! Stay tuned to see if you've won!
The twelfth day of Christmas celebrates the twelve drummers drumming. This fabulous image comes to life in Gloria's dazzling holiday card featuring our 12 Days of Christmas collection. The holidays are such an enchanting time for getting creative. The magnificent papers and embellishments from 12 Days of Christmas offer endless possibilities for perfect handmade cards and gifts! Let Gloria's wonderfully festive card inspire you to let your imagination run wild! Here are some of Gloria's helpful tips for how she created this vibrant holiday treasure. Take it away, Gloria!
This was the hardest card of the entire set to complete. Perhaps because it was the last one or maybe because I was unsure which image to chose. I am happy with the outcome and love the small details such as the glitter flower centers and my "real wood" drum sticks!
I am happy to have purchased a set of Christmas trinkets and that I hoarded them for just this set of projects. They added just the right vintage touch to the cards! I love the vintage metal paired with the sparkle on the flowers.
I cut the flowers with a poinsettia die and then chalked the veins with white chalk ink to give the flowers more dimension. The drum sticks are actually toothpicks cut to size and "stained" with an alcohol marker!
I decorated the inside of the card a sticker and a strip of paper.
Supplies:
Graphic 45 The Twelve Days of Christmas papers:
Graphic 45 The Twelve Days of Christmas Cardstock Stickers
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Original ColorMates Light Totally Tan, Deep Berry Red, Light Berry Red, Elan Metallics Antique Gold, Smooth Deep Spring Green
Trinket: Tim Holtz Idea-ology
Die cut template: Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia
Gems stones: Couture Creations
Ribbon: Stampin' Up!
Toothpicks: grocery store
Brad: unknown
Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Chalk Alabaster; Copic Markers
Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares; Scotch 3M ATG tape runner; Beacon Fabri-trac; Aleene's Tacky Glue
Next we have a beautiful gift tutorial by Nichola that also features our 12 Days of Christmas collection! This is her amazing Christmas cracker! This is such a fun holiday tradition! Have a great time creating these sweet gifts for your holiday dinner guests, friends and family! It's the perfect way to bring even more festive cheer to your Christmas celebration! Take it away, Nichola!
We have a combined Christmas in my household, celebrating both my husbands Italian roots and my British background. One of the Brit traditions we always include is the Christmas Cracker. Just before dinner, guests grasp the ends and pull apart these little treats, a small snap inside ‘CRACKS!’ as it breaks open. Inside is a paper crown to be worn during the feast, a joke or motto, and a small treat, gift or trinket.
Supplies:
• 12 Days of Christmas Banners
• 12 Days of Christmas Chipboard Die-cuts 2
• 12 Days of Christmas Stickers
• 12 Days of Christmas 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pad
Cracker snap (I purchased mine from Michaels’s 12 for under $3)
Tissue Paper
Double Sided Tape
• Botanica Minis in Cranberry/Amber/Orange
• Velvet Hydrangea leaves
Trinkets and treats for inside the cracker.
Here is how to create your very own Traditional English Christmas Cracker.
Tutorial:
Begin by creating the paper crown. The crown should be quite simple and not heavily embellished as it will be rolled up. Create your own version or use THIS .template
Download Graphic45_12DaysofChristmas_Cracker_Crown_template
I’ve cut the two pieces from the template from 12 Days of Christmas. **NOTE the template only measures 11” across. Clip or incorporate the extra 1” however you see fit.
Use some double sided tape to adhere the layers together. Take a 28” length of coordinating ribbon and affix it with double sided tape to the crown, adhere the middle of the ribbon with the middle front of the crown. The extra length at the sides will be used to tie the paper crown to your head.
I lightly embellish with some dots from the 12 Days of Christmas Banners and a festive 12 Days of Christmas Sticker. DO NOT over embellish.
Now we move on to creating the actual cracker. Begin by cutting two pieces of coordinating paper into 5” x 6” rectangles.
I’m going to use the piece from the 12 Days of Christmas 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pad for my inner tube. I place a double width of 2 sided tape down the length of the short edge of the paper. I want this inside tube to be slightly smaller than the outsider one.
With the inner tube now created, I roll my paper crown tight enough to fit inside. I can also place any other treats, jokes or small items inside at this point. (Psst! If you have trouble keeping them from falling out, you can sneak them in later!)
Using a small piece of tape (or hot glue, or any other adhesive) tack a snap into place. This will help to keep it in place when it is pulled apart. Do not affix it in the centre, where the snappy bit is.
By bending the strip like the photo below, you further help the snap to stay in place.
I fold a standard piece of tissue paper in half and tightly roll it around my tube. Don’t worry about the excess width, we’ll need it. Tack in place with a tiny bit of hot glue or double sided tape.
Try to avoid squishing the ends as you wrap the second piece of 5” x 6” paper around the outside. Align this outer roll with the inside one.
You should have something that looks like this...
At this point I usually trim about 1” from either end of the tissue. Making sure the the ends are neat and tidy.
To create clean, crisp rolls at the end I make an extra tube that is slightly smaller than my cracker. This doesn’t have to be pretty as it is going to be my rolling tool.
Insert the roll tool inside the end of the cracker. You’ll want to leave about 1-2” of space between the end of the tool and the edge of the crackers tube.
Firmly twist until you have a nice tight seal and a neatly rolled end. Peek inside and you should see the end of the snap poking out of the centre of the twist.
To ensure the twist does not unfurl, tie a small piece of ribbon to hold everything in place.
If you were having trouble keeping your treats inside the cracker, you can now sneak them inside by pushing them in the open end before repeating the same twisting technique to seal the opposite side.
The final step is to embellish the exterior. Use coordinating ribbons, and tags, Fussy cut flowers and lords-a-leapin’. I’ve added a decorative brad and some beautiful flowers and leaves from Petaloo.
When you’re setting your Christmas table, place one cracker on each plate and have guests pull them apart before the feasting begins. And make certain that everyone wears their silly paper hats… they make Christmas merry and jolly indeed!
Wasn't that fun?! We've got one more special treat for you G45ers! Here is another gorgeous series of cards that Gloria created with our 12 Days of Christmas collection. You can download the project sheet for these amazing cards as well as a decorative card storage box! Click on the links below to download the project sheet tutorials. Have a wonderful time creating the perfect cards for friends and family! Happy holidays from all of us at Graphic 45!
Click the link below to download Gloria's card tutorials!
Download Tutorial 12Days-12CardClass
Click the link below to download Gloria's decorative card box tutorial!
Download Tutorial for 12Days-Box
That's all for today's very special blog, G45ers. We had so much fun getting to share this incredible holiday event with you! Be sure to stop by our blog tomorrow when we announce a winner for our amazing grand prize! We will also have a fantastic featured artist and some incredible crafts to inspire your weekend! We can't wait to share the inspiration! Big thanks to Gloria and Nichola for their stunning work today. We also want to thank all of you G45ers for joining us! Have a fantastic day!
Happy Holiday Papercrafting!
Your Friends at Graphic 45
WOW!! What a fabulous 12 Days of tutes and beauty!!
Posted by: Maggi Harding | December 12, 2013 at 05:07 AM
What a great series on the Twelve Days, and now the card samples. You can't get any better.
Posted by: Sarah Stainback | December 12, 2013 at 05:12 AM
Love the "drum sticks" on the beautiful card!
Posted by: Jennifer Wolf | December 12, 2013 at 05:13 AM
Really wonderful inspirations everyday popping up in my email!
Posted by: Chermaine | December 12, 2013 at 05:17 AM
Beautiful projects. Just love those poinsettias on the card. Thanks for all the inspiration !
Posted by: Nathalie Jakubik | December 12, 2013 at 05:19 AM
These are absolutely gorgeous and so do-able! Thank you G45 for all of the inspiring ideas and gorgeous paper lines (and other goodies) for us crafters and scrapbookers!
Posted by: Melissa Minor | December 12, 2013 at 05:22 AM
LOVE THEM ALL! BEAUTIFUL!!
Posted by: barbara f | December 12, 2013 at 05:22 AM
Wonderful!
Posted by: Marilyn H | December 12, 2013 at 05:27 AM
So beautiful!
Posted by: Sandi Zakheim-Nord | December 12, 2013 at 05:29 AM
Would love to win!
Posted by: vallie | December 12, 2013 at 05:30 AM
Beautiful, can't wait to try it myself!
This is my first time of scrapping and I love all your paperpads!
Posted by: Irene | December 12, 2013 at 05:31 AM
Todays projects are terrific. Love the crackers. Seeing all the cards together, they are just so beautiful. Thank you for a chance to win such a great prize.
Posted by: Melanie Ann MacKenzie | December 12, 2013 at 05:33 AM
This card is so pretty, I love the poinsettia. Everything in this series of 12 Days has been so creative and beautiful. Thank you to everyone!
Posted by: Linda | December 12, 2013 at 05:33 AM
All are so beautiful!!
Posted by: Dorothy McCarthy | December 12, 2013 at 05:34 AM
It is gorgeous! I would never have thought about the toothpicks! I loved them all, Gloria! They are all unique and special! Thank you for the inspiration, G45!
Posted by: Kitty Strydom | December 12, 2013 at 05:39 AM
This is big fun...the gift card box and cards is pretty amazing!
Posted by: Jan Elmore | December 12, 2013 at 05:39 AM
I've enjoyed all 12 Days of inspiration. Thank you. These fabulous ideas have inspired my own homemade gifts that is going to be enjoyed by my family and friends!
Posted by: Mary Reppe | December 12, 2013 at 05:43 AM
Gloria your cards are Outstanding! I thank for taking the time to share them with all of us. The 12 Days of Christmas paper is beautiful.
Posted by: Diane J | December 12, 2013 at 05:43 AM
Hello!
I love to see each new posting every morning and all of the beautiful projects and creations! Your paper collections are so wonderful and bring joy to my heart just seeing them! Thank you for bringing us this inspiration - I would be in heaven to win such a prize! Wishing you a happy day!
Hugs,
Barbara Diane
Posted by: Barbara Diane | December 12, 2013 at 05:59 AM
Such wonderful and creative ideas you've shared! I love G45!
Posted by: Sarah | December 12, 2013 at 06:02 AM
Amazing. Thanks for these 12 days of inspiration.
Posted by: Jeniff Sthory | December 12, 2013 at 06:04 AM
Thank you Gloria for the decorative card box tutorial. I want to make this!
Posted by: Beth | December 12, 2013 at 06:14 AM
I love crackers!
Posted by: Patricia A Paola | December 12, 2013 at 06:15 AM
What a fun time seeing all these wonderful cards and crafts.
Posted by: kath White | December 12, 2013 at 06:22 AM
So excited to have the complete tutorial of Gloria's cards. Also, the crackers are a great idea-my kids will love those.
Posted by: Traci | December 12, 2013 at 06:23 AM
These are so beautiful! Love working with Graphic 45 products!
Posted by: Lisa Winton | December 12, 2013 at 06:24 AM
really awesome projects! The cards are just to die for and the altered box is itself an artistic pleasure to look at.
Posted by: Heaney | December 12, 2013 at 06:38 AM
I agree with you Gloria! The Christmas Trinkets DO go so well with these cards!! They are quite lovely in my opinion! Thank you for the tutorial for the extra 12 cards and box! I am going to enjoy making these!
Nichola-your crackers are so cool! Great tutorial! I am going to try this!
So sad that the 12 Days of Tutorials is over! I so love tutorials to help guide me! Thanks for these last 12 days, it has been fun! Merry Christmas to all!
Posted by: barbara macaskill | December 12, 2013 at 06:38 AM
all of Gloria's cards are fabulous. the way she put them together is wonderful.
so many fabulous projects!
thanks for sharing them all.
stamping sue
http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/
Posted by: stamping sue | December 12, 2013 at 06:39 AM
..the 12 days just zoomed by.. such great ideas for each day.. luvin this line of papers..
Posted by: mitz | December 12, 2013 at 06:42 AM
love the projects! would love the prize package to make them!
Posted by: Heather Isaacs | December 12, 2013 at 06:46 AM
Wow! Such great cards and projects (as usual!) :)
Posted by: Shari Czerwinski | December 12, 2013 at 06:48 AM
These gorgeous projects are adding to my excitement of the Christmas Season.
Posted by: Mary | December 12, 2013 at 06:52 AM
Beautiful projects as always on G45 blog!! So creative and inspiring!!
Posted by: Mary | December 12, 2013 at 06:56 AM
I've always loved the drummer boy and am glad you included that in your beautiful colleciton-the card is gorgeous--and love the little cracker idea! TFS!
Posted by: Kelly Massman | December 12, 2013 at 06:57 AM
Thanks for the directions on making a Christmas cracker. I heard so much about them but never had one. So pretty. The card is really set off by the poinsettias. they are one of the highlights of Christmas. Great hop. thanks for having it.
Posted by: marylouh | December 12, 2013 at 06:58 AM
This has been a magnificent series! Thank you to all the designers who poured their hearts into these gorgeous cards and gifts. you have made our Christmas so much more merry. May Santa leave you lots of paper goodies in your stockings! xoxo
Posted by: kathy/NorthCarolina | December 12, 2013 at 07:09 AM
Thank you for sharing all the wonderful Christmas projects with us. Looked forward to it each and every day.
Posted by: Pammy B | December 12, 2013 at 07:12 AM
These projects today are just as gorgeous as all the other days!! It's been a fun and inspiring series y'all hosted!... thank you. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Caroline Duncan | December 12, 2013 at 07:13 AM
Love the look of those poinsettias - they're so different.
Posted by: Debbie Siddle | December 12, 2013 at 07:29 AM