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:

Joyeux Noel

Drummers Drumming

The Twelve Days of Christmas

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:

• 12 Days of Christmas

• Joyeux Noel

• 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

Various May Arts Ribbon

Petaloo Flowers

• 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

Related articles

Deck The Halls With Holiday Tags

The Twelve Days of Gift Tutorials: Day 5

The Twelve Days of Gift Tutorials: Day 4

The Twelve Days of Gift Tutorials: Day 3

Comments

[Mincka Buijs]

so inspiring this tutorials! One after the other is a winner!

[Janet P]

Lovely Christmas projects and a great selection of goodies.

[Dot Griffin]

WOW! How thankful I would be (not to mention beside myself) if I won this wonderful grand prize package of goodies. Thank you for the chance and Merry Christmas to everyone at G45!!

[Kim Cornwell]

This would be awesome to get as a gift under the tree!!! What things I could do with this!! Awesome projects as always!!!

[Mar-Lyn]

I love this!

[Pamela]

The the 12 Days cards - stunning

[Rosa Salinas]

From cards, to albums and altered projects.... Graphic 45 is my favorite! Easy to match with all kind of embellishments ..awesome colors and material quality.... I Am a graphic45holic!

[janell Buchanan]

Great Prizes and wonderful christmas projects. Thanks for the great ideas.

[Harlene]

These projects are spectacular.

[Robyn C.]

I LOVE the cracker tutorial! I always wondered how I could make my own. Thanks!

[mary blake]

Wow I don't think I have a favorite.. love everything.. :-)

[Kimberly Akenuwa]

Thank you for this wonderful prize package. I can only hope that I win. PLEASE!

[ashliegh hepinstall]

Wow what a wonderful 12 days such inspiration and talent in this group and the papers are just divine bravo!

[Eva R.]

These projects are gorgeous - thank you for the inspiration!

[Maggie S]

Love all your fabulous projects! I really, really, really would love to win this!

[Sandra Reyes]

I love the Gloria's decorative card box.

[Denise Mackey]

Gloria, your Graphic 45 12 Days Of Christmas projects are beautiful! Thanks for sharing your creativity!

[Christi]

What a fabulous opportunity and prize package Graphic 45! Thank you for it! You guys ROCK!

[Carly Eshelman]

It's been an amazing 12 days. Thank you for doing such an awesome giveaway. Have a blessed holiday!

[Peggy Oliver]

Wow your design team rocked it!!
Thank you for this wonderful prize pack from some Great sponsors!!
Graphic 45 is definitely on the top of my list of a great products!

[Dana]

Beautiful projects as always! Thanks for the tutorials..love love love tutorials!!

[Lilian Bobadilla]

These are some awesome projects

[Carla Hundley]

Wonderful instructions
on the crackers. Have
loved all the daily cards.
So pretty and festive.
Carla from Utah

[Alma Jean King]

Thank you for the 12 days of Christmas cards. Each is a work of art.
The box and cracker just tops this off.
Great artistry.

[Aggie Stiefer]

Wonderful tutorials AGAIN! So in love with the 12 days of Christmas

[Kirsten]

These are really great! Thank you for the inspiration :)

[Dana Desmond]

Oh, how fun. I usually buy the cheap cracker that just have junk, but this is so much more fun.

[Clara Krassman]

Graphic45 has such vibrant colors which makes everything so eye-catching.

[dawna bond]

This has been such a fun set of projects to work on, and quite a haul on the prizes.....would love to win!

[lyn lafond]

so lovely! and such a nice touch to any holiday gathering.

[Mythis Wilkinson]

I love this paper G45 you guys have the best paper and great gift ideas. I'm working on journals for Christmas now to give as gifts.

[Johna Bradsaw]

What a great give away!

[eileen phalen]

I never came across anything G45 made and didn't like it !!!!LOVE G45
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

[Gavi S]

love the little drumsticks, very nice projects!

[Manuela]

the tutorials are very beautiful!!!

[Carole Carlson]

This has been a fun and inspiring series of posts. Thank you.

[Shauna Stotts]

Wow How beautiful !!! Love it :)

[Joann Alexander]

Love All of Graphic45!

[Virginia Burnett]

Awesome Love the Tutorials and what a wonderful Give Away........

[Shannon Tuttle]

Wow such great idears and such a fun prize package.