Sparkle and Fizz

Who doesn't LOVE chocolate??  OK...confession time...I used to not.  It's crazy, I know.  But when I was a kid, I actually really didn't care for chocolate (which is a tad bit odd, since Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was my all-time favorite movie...).  In fact, instead of admitting  that I didn't like chocolate, I told a white lie and said that I was "allergic" to chocolate, just so I didn't look weird by not eating it.  Eventually, my taste buds came to their senses and I outgrew my "anti-chocolate" phase and now I could eat it by the bucketful. The Holidays are generally the perfect excuse to give everyone and anyone I know chocolate!  Super expensive "chocolatier" chocolate to just good ol' Hershey's chocolate---it doesn't matter!  But what does  matter to me, is how it's given.  I can't just hand you a plain chocolate bar.  It's just not the Papercrafting Passionista's style!  It has to be beau

You know, it's been unseasonably warm here where I live for this time of year.  I'm absolutely NOT complaining---I love it!  BUT, it does make it a little harder for me to get fully immersed in the Christmas Spirit when I can go outside without a coat on.  It doesn't make me wish for a steaming cup of hot chocolate to curl up with on the couch and a book.  Which is what I always love to do when it's colder than a penguin's beak outside. So, instead of drinking hot chocolate, I'm packaging it up and giving it away as Stocking Stuffer gifts! Aren't these cute!? They were pretty fun to make and decorate, too! Here's how to make them: Supply List: Cardstock  (any solid color of your choice) Designer Series Paper  (there's sooo many gorgeous ones to choose from, too!) Tear & Tape Adhesive #138995 Simply Scored Score Tool #122334 Paper Dimensions: Cardstock (8" x 5"; scored at 3-3/4" and 4-1/4") and (5-3/4&quo

Part of the beauty of a special wrapped package includes the little "extras", like a darling little gift tag that notates who the recipient is.  I am a sucker for the cutesy tags and the blingy tags (I have a whole bin of them with my Christmas gift wrap), but I've found that I buy them and then never use them for two reasons.  One, they are usually an investment (even the discount retailers are between $0.30-$0.50 each) and I hate seeing that amount of money wind up in the trash.  And two, they don't always coordinate with my gift wrap (if I find ones that do, then I pay even more of a premium for that type of coordination!)  Are any of you nodding your heads alongside me?  Haha! Well, this year, I found a very affordable way to custom-make my own gift tags!  I can coordinate my colors to work with my existing gift wrap and I'm not spending a fortune!  I mean, some of these tags cost as little as $0.07 to make!  I can totally give away that price and  be proud

Here it is!  The first of this month's Crafty Little Christmas Tutorials!  Today's will be a little Gift Card Holder!  This beautiful little folded piece of cardstock perfectly tucks away a special little gift that any recipient will be joyful to open!  These were a huge hit and a best seller at my Holiday Craft Fairs this season!  Now, you, at home, can make your own for your gift card gifting! Before we begin, I have to tell you that Stampin' Up!'s thick cardstock is truly the best foundation for these holders.  Because of the weight of our cardstock (80# weight) scoring and folding is crisp and clean and your gift card fits so snug inside; there's no worries that it may fall out or damaged before your receiver gets it.  And because of the beautiful coordination between all of Stampin' Up!'s colors, pairing Designer Series Paper and inked sentiments is super easy---there's hardly any thinking involved!  I was able to whip up these 10 featured abov

Ahh!  This is the most wonderful time of the year!  I roll right into the Christmas hustle and bustle with one thing on my mind: gift-giving!  Maybe that's a bit materialistic of me, but I love  giving gifts to family and friends and those whom I care about to show my appreciation over the past year.  Plus, the Wise Men gave Baby Jesus presents to honor Him becoming King one day, and, not to dishonor the importance of this Biblical Event, but the people in my "village" who help me get through life one day at a time, are like "royalty" to me.  So, I'd like to shower them with little gifts, too. Right now, I'm currently obsessed over these adorable little Mini Pizza Boxes that Stampin' Up! released in our Holiday Catalog.  These boxes assemble quickly and easily, so I don't have to make them myself.  Instead, I can simply add a few frills and there we go.  Ready to stuff and give.  How easy is that!? This week, I'm decorating them up so I