Winter Snowflakes "Birthday Hugs" Card

Do you have a January birthday or a friend with a January birthday? Then you know the experience of drab winters and canceled birthday parties is real. On this cheery snowflake birthday card, I love the bright colors on the card and hope that you do, too. It’s perfect when a friend can use a little pick-me-up with a birthday wish.

First, I began by selecting my card stock papers. These are the cutcardstock.com papers that I used:

Silk Glitter Opulent Opal 12x12 Card Stock; Basis Navy 80lb Cardstock; DCS Discount 8.5x11 Card Stock: Amaranth Pink; and Classic Crest DTC Solar White 165 lb Card Stock.

I matted a layer of the bright pink paper to navy card stock. I love how navy pops, especially in bright colors. I then matted the two onto the white glitter paper. This makes a nice frame — and matches the cut snowflakes.

Second, I gathered my snowflake metal die cuts and a snowflake dry embossing folder. For the die-cut snowflakes, I used white glitter card stock for the focus of my design. I put the largest cut on the top center and surrounded it with smaller snowflakes. 

Third, on the pink card stock, I used a white gel pen. I colored some of the falling snow from the embossing folder. I did this mostly on the bottom of the card to give the look of fallen snow.

Then, for the card sentiment, I used navy ink that picks up on the navy card stock layer. I used another metal die cut, a banner shape, to cut close to the sentiment. I adhered it to a strip of navy card stock paper to make the sentiment pop against the pink. I then added dimensional adhesive foam dots to raise the height of the sentiment. 

I hope that you enjoyed this how-to. Are you busy making seasonal birthday cards? I’d love it if you shared what you made!

Mini Hot Cocoa Cup Treat Gifts

Today, I am bringing you some holiday cheer inspiration. With the Christmas season upon us, you will search for the perfect “thinking of you” gift! Finding a nice, high-quality gift at a value price is sometimes challenging. I have a one-of-a-kind project for you that you can make or sell at crafts shows or online.

It’s a real mini coffee cup in a card stock cup holder. You can fill the espresso cups with K-cup cocoa, K-cup coffee, candies, or small chocolates. If you are selling the cups, I suggest complying with your state cottage food laws.

First, I gathered my supplies:

The Big Shot machine and the necessary die-cut shapes. They are The Stamp Doctor’s “Mini Coffee Cover” and “Mini Coffee Cup Holder Dies” and 4-ounce coffee cups with lids. You can find the cups and lids at online restaurant supply retailers or The Stamp Doctor if you are looking for smaller quantities.  

You can find the cups at retailers, like www.webrestaurantstore.com, who sell expresso cups with lids — or the Stamp Doctor for smaller mini coffee cup quantities.

For the next step, match coordinating card stock papers to 12" x 12” patterned paper. I used Hobby Lobby’s The Paper Studio snowflake paper and DCS Discount Card Stock: Textured Indigo Blue Card Stock and Lessebo Colors Premium Misty Blue 83 lb Card Stock.

My other supplies include cute glittered foam sticker snowflakes, clear Stickles glitter glue, and adhesive rhinestones.

After cutting the cup wrapper in the patterned paper, I cut the card stock cup base in Indigo Blue. I pieced my sample together and added a rhinestone to the center of the glittered snowflake. I then made sure my cellos for the project fit well — and they did. 

To finish off a cello bag, you need to make a topper. I made a folded card stock top that fit the top of the cello bag. I used Indigo Blue Card Stock and stapled the topper with Tim Holtz idea-ology Tiny Attacher Stapler.

I also die-cut a tag out of Misty Blue Card Stock and glued it to the Indigo Blue cello topper, covering the staple. I inked a “to” and “from” stamp sentiment, using an ink color that matched the Indigo Blue, and I embellished the tag with Stickles, and adhered it to the topper with a silver brad. I also added hand-punched snowflakes in white card stock.

I hope that you enjoyed this how-to and will try it. And happy holiday crafting to you!