Christmas Pocket Letters

Hello everyone, I hope your Christmas was a good one. There's been a lot going on in my world lately and I nearly missed posting my last Christmas pocket letters for 2015. So quickly I wanted to share those with you and I'll have my incoming pocket letters on my blog next week.  

The above pocket letter went to my pal in Connecticut, Kristine, and this was our second swap.  

This is what the back looked like before I filled it with goodies. The paper is from Tim Holtz's Merriment collection and it's double sided. 

A close up of one of the mixed media snowflake pockets I created using Studio 490's silver embossing paste and a Dylusions snowflake stencil. So happy she liked it!

The next pocket letter was for a new pal in Missouri and I branched out using non-traditional colors. 

I used Lawn Fawn's blue bokeh paper on the four outer corner pockets and the remaining pockets feature a custom mixed media paper by me. I used Ranger's Glossy coated paper and sprayed Cracked Pistachio and Cherry Pie ink sprays on the background, let it set for a while then rolled a paper towel roll over it to absorb the remaining color. After it dried I added silver stars with a Finnabair star stencil and silver embossing paste. On two of the four corners I used the same embossing paste and a TCW star stencil. Cardstock and chipboard stickers were used on the front and back of the pocket letter to decorate it. The spine has light blue snowflake washi tape on it along with two metal brads and a ribbon bow with a tag.

It was fun to decorate the back of this one especially since it was the only letter I made using these colors. I tucked her goodies in the inside pockets and I'm so happy Charli loved it!

This is my last official Christmas pocket letter and it went to a new pal in Utah.

I created another custom mixed media background paper by using Heidi Swapp's chevron resist paper and Dylusions ink sprays. Then I added a layer of red snowflakes with a Dylusions snowflake stencil and custom mixed texture paste. The house was created using Tim's Merriment paper and square bling to outline the roof. Jolee's Boutique, Recollection and Mambi stickers add some pizzazz to the front. I dressed the spine up with washi tape, burlap snowflake ribbon and a big jingle bell.

This is the back and I added some stamped images / sentiments on each pocket. Her goodies were tucked inside the pockets and before I mailed it out I also added some to the spine. So happy Marsha liked it!

The last pocket letter I have to share today was created for the Cook, Bake and Enjoy! group swap at Pocket Letter Pals. It went to my pal Mary in Florida and this was our second time to swap letters. Since it was Christmas time, and these nutcrackers stickers were begging to be used, I went with a holiday theme. 

I did a lot of stamping on this one and used washi tape on every pocket. On the spine I added washi tape, three gingham ribbon bows and attached two tags with ribbon sample with stick pins and mini clothespins. On the other tag I shared washi tape samples with her plus handmade cupcake embellishments. The copper colander ornament was from Cracker Barrel and I think it's so cute.

We were asked to swap recipes with our pal so I created these individual envelopes to put each recipe in. I punched a scalloped oval and wrote the name of each one on it. Then I filled the pockets with goodies. So happy that Mary liked it!

In total that's four pocket letters and my final four for 2015. 

It's late now so I'll sign off and wish each of you a very Happy New Year.

God Bless, 

Lisa xx

Z - Zoo Animal

Z - Zoo Animal

We have good news to share today at ABC Christmas Challenge! The DT Call is over and 3 new members are joining our team. 

Chrissy

Mandy

Sue

Please give a big welcome to them!

Okay on to our challenge-it's the end of the year and we're at the last letter of the alphabet. For my inspiration today I'm sharing a card I made for a friend who had her first child in late October. It's always exciting to celebrate a baby's first Christmas.

One of my favorite zoo animals is the elephant. When I ran across a chipboard elephant by Brenda Walton in my stash I knew he had to make an appearance on my card. I used a computer generated sentiment and die cut it with a Spellbinders Fancy Tag. Liquid pearls outline the smaller SB's Labels 10 die and the outer edge of my green cardstock. Punched vellum snowflakes add a frosty feel and a large pearl was added to each one. 

I popped the elephant and larger label up with Scrapbook Adhesive foam squares for dimension. A striped ribbon runs through the middle underneath. Simple but sweet!

You can see all of the Zoo Animals inspiration by the design team on the challenge blog. I'd like to wish all of my ABC Christmas Challenge teamies a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! To all of our participants thank you for joining us this year and making ABC Christmas Challenge a fun place to share Christmas projects, all year long. 

This challenge is sponsored by

Bunny Zoe Crafts

Edited: This is a scheduled post but I'd like to ask each of you to pray for my mother and sister. Each is battling a serious health issue this Christmas and your prayers would mean the world to them. 

Thank You!

Merry Christmas everyone, wherever you are.

Lisa xx

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Ho Ho Ho

The Cutting Cafe's adorable Sleigh Treat Box Template...Cutting File is perfect for creating a festive scene like mine or for giving a treat in style. 

The file comes with additional pieces which allow you to customize your sleigh, if you choose. I added gold Stickles around the edge of mine. The trees are also from The Cutting Cafe as well and they're from the 3D Christmas Tree Set. The reindeer were die cut from Tim's Prancing Deer die and faux snow makes for a wintry feel.

We're celebrating all things Christmas on The Cutting Cafe blog tomorrow so be sure to drop by and check out the amazing creations by the design team. If you leave a comment you'll be automatically entered to win 3 Free Sets and Regina will announce the winner on the 7th of January. 

I want to wish everyone at The Cafe a very Merry Christmas! 

Thanks Regina and my fellow design team members for the love and support you've shown me this year. You guys are the best and I love ya!!

Lisa xx 

Christmas Pocket Letter

It's the most wonderful time of the year but it's not suppose to be t-shirt weather in Tennessee. Totally weird but hey I'll enjoy it while I can. :) So on to my Christmas themed pocket letter for my Facebook friend from India. She requested that we swap and I was tickled pink. I am so excited to receive my pocket letter from Aparna but since it may take awhile I wanted to share mine today and I'll include hers in the Incoming Pocket Letters post at the end of the month.

The paper collection is A Christmas Story by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park. 

The fun paper with Santa, the deer and snowmen is so cute! I embellished the pockets with ephemera and chipboard stickers from the collection plus two brads on the spine. Speaking of the spine, the washi tape and snowflake ribbon is by Recollections. 

The back pockets were filled with goodies I used on the pocket letter as well as brads, ribbon, satin flowers and a packet of breakfast tea. Hope Aparna will enjoy them. :)

I've had so much fun creating these woodsy themed pocket letters for Christmas. 

Have a great day, wherever you are!

Lisa xx

Y - Youngsters

Y - Youngsters

That's our new challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge. 

It's so hard to believe this year is nearly over and the next challenge is the caboose of the alphabet - Z. For me it's the youngsters (of all ages) that make Christmas special. I once thought, a long time ago, that I never wanted to marry and that I didn't want children. I can't tell you how happy I am that things did not work out that way. My life without my children wouldn't be worth living. When my son married in 2012 I inherited another youngster, my daughter-in-law, and this easel style card is for her. 

Inside

She's a huge fan of Disney's Frozen so when I came across this paper, Webster's Pages Winter Fairy Tales, I immediately thought of the movie. Olaf is a cutie I admit however we weren't thrilled when we visited Disney's Epcot Center this past January and learned that the Norway ride exhibit was shut down and being replaced with a Frozen themed ride. Not cool! To say that this movie has had a huge influence on the Disney's Parks is an understatement. It was Frozen hysteria I tell ya. 

I did find the Frozen look of Cinderella's castle to be absolutely magical though. 

Thanks Elsa!

Magic Kingdom, January 2015

Orlando, Florida

The colors kept changing and like a youngster I was totally mesmerized by the lights. And now you know my favorite thing to do at Christmas...looking at Christmas lights. On the flip side my pet peeve is people who are still lighting their home after New Year's. ;) 

Our challenge is being sponsored by 

Fred She Said

Prize for our lucky winner is a $10 Gift Certificate

For more inspiration visit the challenge blog to see what the rest of the DT created.

I hope your holiday season is off to a good start. So far so good for me but there's a lot of wrapping yet to do so I'd better get busy. Have a great day, wherever you are!

Lisa xx

Sucker Treat Cups from The Cafe

 

Hi everyone! 

I'm here to share Christmas Sucker Treat Cup's with you from The Cutting Cafe. These were so much fun to create using Regina's template and cutting file-Sucker Treat Cup Set. Tomorrow on The Cutting Cafe's blog you'll be able to see all of the design team inspiration using treat cups. 

Be sure to drop by The Cutting Cafe to shop for your Christmas templates...cutting files...printable stamps...and if you leave a comment on the DT post you could win 3 FREE Sets. The winner will be announced on the 21st. Also, remember to share any creation you make on The Cutting Cafe's - Be Inspired Facebook page so we can all enjoy it!

Here's a close up of the above treat cup.

The designer paper is by October Afternoon and I added a grosgrain bow and made it extra festive by adding a jingle bell as well. What kid, any age, wouldn't love these!

I didn't stop there and made one more with colors that are not traditional. I used dp's from Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses collection and I adore the cute little deer on it. I wrapped another ribbon around the treat cup part and tied a grosgrain bow

The lollipop stick is by Wilton and can be purchased in the candy/baking section of any craft store. I used distress ink to color each one. It's important to note that Regina created a Watch Me Work Wednesday video on how to assemble the treat cups. If you click the link above to view the set it will be at the bottom. I recommend viewing it before you start assembly so you can determine which pieces you want to work with as some are optional. 

If you want to include a holiday phrase as another layer there's a printable set with several choices available.

Christmas Sucker Treat Cup Phrases-Printable Set

The Sucker Treat Cup Set comes with a template to create a box if you are giving it as a gift. Once I figure out who is getting each one (have a few more to make) I'll print off a mini sentiment from the Christmas Bulb Greetings Template and Cutting File and attach it. 

Thanks for dropping by today. 

Have a wonderful week, wherever you are!

Lisa xx

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Good Morning! 

Hope your day is off to a great start. This time of year can be a bit overwhelming and I'm up to my neck in holiday decorating and gift wrapping. The old saying is true - a woman's work is never done - yet somehow every Christmas we pull it off. :) I can't tell you how much I miss my fairy though (aka my college girl) because she always helped out with decorating. Now I am the Chief Elf and work diligently to have everything together so the house is full of Christmas cheer when she arrives home. The bright side is she's there to help me pack everything up. I do have to credit my hubby for helping me bring the boxes down and for setting the tree up, thanks dear. :)

Let's move on with my Christmas Pocket Letter, I recently participated in a 9 Days of Christmas swap and shared my PL a few days ago on my blog. I received a message from a lady who said that she'd requested to be my swap partner and was disappointed when we weren't matched up. She mentioned that she started a PL in hopes I'd trade with her.....I was very flattered and there's no way I could say no. So this PL went to my new pal, Maya, in New York and I'm thrilled she loves it.

The theme of my pl was spelled out on the Brenda Walton Christmas dp I used and I added a 3D snowglobe sticker to the 3rd pocket and a holly chipboard sticker to the outside.  

I used Snow-Tex by Deco Art to build up my snowy scene. As I've said before I can't tell you how much I love this stuff. The trees are a Taylored Expressions die cut and I used corrugated paper by DCWV. The house was fussy cut from Brenda's paper and I added Frosted Lace Stickles to the outline of the roof. A cardstock sentiment sticker was added to the front of the pocket along with a 3D poinsettia and snowflakes by Fancy Pants.

A holly border and another 3D poinsettia was added to the front and I used a sentiment from the paper collection for the first pocket. Santa is part of the 12x12 dp I used by Brenda Walton for K and Co.. I decorated the spine with red glitter washi tape by Heidi Swapp and two holly brads. 

Because the back of the paper was double sided it's hard to see the goodies but I based it on the 9 Days of Christmas as I did the one I made for my group swap partner so she received 1, 2, 3, etc. of something in the coordinating pockets. 

 Sorry for the glare!

For my pal I gave her - 

1 piece of candy

2 Christmas brads

3 felt snowflakes

4 Melissa Frances candy canes

5 red satin bows

6 mitten stickers

7 washi tape and ribbon samples

8 Christmas chipboard buttons

9 jingle bells

and a partridge in a pear tree.

I'm excited to share the adorable pl I received from my pal in New York.

Edited: I have removed her PL upon her request. Even though I watermarked it she wasn't comfortable with me sharing it on my blog. You'll have to take my word for it, it was very cute.

These have been so much fun to make and share with you. In case you haven't dropped by in a while there's been a post every day this week with a new pocket letter. Seems I can't stop myself lol! 

Have a wonderful weekend, wherever you are!

Lisa xx

Woodland Themed Pocket Letter, Take 2

{apologizing in advance for the glare, 

click on any photo to enlarge}

This post is the first of two where I have had personal requests asking me to create a pocket letter for a member of Pocket Letter Pals. It's always flattering when someone enjoys your creations enough to reach out to you and ask to swap letters. I'm thrilled to have a new pal, Mary, from the Sunshine State and as it turns out we've been partnered for a another group swap mid-month. I have a feeling Mary will be one of my permanent pals because I can tell she has a heart of gold. I adored her letter and I'm sharing it today as well. 

{I love this little fox}

My letter to Mary uses the same paper collections as my first woodland themed pl (which had 200+ likes on the PLP's FB page, crazy!) did but I threw a new one into the mix for fun. Also on the 2nd row I stayed with Webster's Pages Sweet Seasons dp's for all 3 pockets. I'll be honest and share that this is one collection I've hoarded and with my 2nd pl here the dp with the cozy cottage is gone. But it's ok, I'm glad the owners of these letters are thrilled with them and that makes me happy. I have pictures and can see it anytime I want. ;)  

The red starry dp is the new one and again I used Jolee's Boutique 3D stickers to enhance my woodland theme pocket letter-Woodland Animals, Holiday Rings, Snowmen, Holly Flourish and Holiday Tree w/Gifts. The NOEL on the bottom row is also by JB but I can't remember the name of the set it's in. The pinecone stickers are by Recollections from Michael's. For the 2nd row I used Deco Art's Snow-Tex to build up my snowy drifts and I fussy cut the bird ephemera from a Brenda Walton dp. The spine is decorated with red glitter washi tape by Heidi Swapp, holly brads by TPS and ribbon.

This photo shows this row without the extra 3D (minus the owl) elements. I love this sweet scene and it just calls for snow. There are a lot of products out there but Deco Art's Snow-Tex is my favorite because it's pre-mixed and there's no mess. Simply apply it with a palette knife and let it dry! Not to mention the awesome texture of it. :)

So happy Mary loves her pl and now I'm excited to share the one she created for me. 

See why I love it!

She did a lot of stamping and there's so much attention to detail that I wanted to share some closeups with you.

I love Santa Claus and the vintage paper on the 2nd pocket is awesome. The first pocket was stamped and you might not be able to tell but his coat looks amazing and has texture to it. It says - He's making a list and checking it twice - and I can share that even at age 51 Santa still visits me. Guess I'm a good girl lol. ;)

Celebrate Your Inner Elf  - ha ha I love it and the elf shoes rock!

Love the dimensionals as well.

In my home snowmen are everywhere during Christmas (hello my last name is Snowdy) and this guy with his shovel of snow (pom poms) is so cute. Love the stamped tree!

{love pl's but they are a pain to photograph bc of the glare}

This is the back of her letter filled with delightful goodies for me, thank you Mary!

Okay tomorrow is my 5th day in a row of sharing pocket letters here on my blog. It has a Christmas theme as well and a different woodsy vibe to it. Hope you'll check it out. 

Have a wonderful day,

Lisa xx

Create a Pocket Letter Kit

In the Smaller Pocket Letters group over at Pocket Letter Pals we were challenged to create a kit for our PLP swap partner. I was in the midst of creating several holiday themed pl's so it was a nice break to make this shabby chic pl kit which went to my pal in Florida. I included Prima goodies in the pockets that I thought she might enjoy creating future pocket letters with. 

I'll start with the spine first today. I cut two strips of the Romance Novel dp by Prima (which I used on all the pockets) and backed each with double stick tape then adhered it to the spine. Ribbons and Prima trim were tied through the punched hole and I added a Girls Paperie metal charm to a vintage pin by Tim Holtz.  Rhinestone Prima elements were added to two of the front pockets for a touch of elegance. The pink satin pleated ribbon was a gift from a friend and it's by Stampin' Up. A small Recollections bling was added to the bottom right corner.

My pal likes birds so on this pocket I added a gold metal charm and a 3D sticker with blossoms. The metal element tucked under the pleated trim is by Finnabair and as most know she designs for Prima Marketing. 

This pocket features another rhinestone element by Prima. The ivory satin pleated trim is by Webster's Pages and the rose trim is from May Arts. When I was cutting my page protector I cut a 1/2 inch below the first row so I could add my trim with double stick tape. 

Here's the back...

I stayed with the Romance Novel paper pack but used more of the vintage images on this side. Also I did some stamping - Hello and perfume bottle by Just Rite Stampers - on the first two pockets. I had some vintage findings in my stash that I thought would make nice additions so I added them (pearl brooch, fan and cameo). On the back I added a solid row of the pink pleated trim (aren't you proud of me lol) and a wood veneer Eiffel Tower which I decked out with pearl bling. 

I have a Snapguide tutorial to share with you but first let me share the PL I received from my pal, Glenda.

Front

Back

In addition she created several hand beaded items and these stick pins (below) which I adore.

You can see how I altered gift bags to use for my pocket letter kit by clicking Start the Guide. 

Check out How to Make a Pocket Letter Using Gift Bags by Lisa Snowdy on Snapguide. 

I'll be back tomorrow with my second woodland themed pocket letter. 

Lisa xx