Thanksgiving Treats

I made a couple of things for my parents that I thought they might enjoy. Being hard to buy and do for, I try to make little things along the way I think they might like...fingers crossed here! This is for Thanksgiving.

I decorated an SU box that I recently got. These boxes are real good quality and hold a good bit. This is the first time I've tried the cracked glass technique and really liked it. I will be doing more and hopefully they will get better each time I do it. This is my first time to do the Cracked Glass technique.


Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Graceful Words (SU ret.)
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Close to Cocoa and More Mustard, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie for sponging on tree, White Craft for distressing the tag, Ranger Walnut Stain for "cracking", Versamark, Gold Encore
Accessories: Suze Weinberg's UTEE, Gold EP, Oval and Scallop Nestabilities, MS Butterfly and Leaf Punch, Basic Grey Copper Opaline Pearls, foam tape, heat gun
Technique: Cracked Glass

After stamping the main image in Close to Cocoa, I used fall colors (listed above) to sponge the tree. I then took Old Olive and lightly sponged around the image. Cut out using the Oval Nestabilities.

TIP: I always do my stamping before I cut them with the Nestabilities. I find if I emboss the edges first (which I do most of the time) that my image has a complete impression and doesn't show a "hiccup" at the border. There's no correct way, it's just the way I do it.

I pressed my Versamark onto the main panel real good then sprinkled the UTEE over it.

ANOTHER TIP: Use a tray or something with edges when using UTEE before applying the heat gun. This is where it can get out of hand if you don't. Trust me, I know...don't ask!! (Let's just say I'm still finding UTEE all over my workspace.) Insert a blushy grin here.

Slowly...and I do say slowly...heat the EP until it melts. Do not rush the melting NOR put your heat gun too close to the powder until it begins to melt. While it is still wet, pour more UTEE over it and repeat the process. I don't know if there is a magical number of times to do this, but I stopped at this point. Then I placed it into the freezer for 15 minutes. While it is still cold, start bending the panel until you get as many "cracks" as you want in it. This is the fun part of the technique! Now take the Walnut Stain and run all over the panel. It will sink down into the cracks and resist the "glass" part.

The Banner: Emboss "blessings" in gold using gold EP on a piece of Naturals Ivory scrap. Sponge some Close to Cocoa all over it. This can be done first or after embossing. Rub the White Craft ink over this piece to give it a more aged appearance. Take scrap pieces of Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa cardstock and punch out the butterflies and leaves. Place them on the banner. Add the pearls for a dressy but not girly touch. Add foam tape in three places on the back; place it in such a way to make it appear as though it has a little movement to the top of the box.

Wah-lah!! You're done. I placed some mixed nuts in the box. I mean, what man doesn't love nuts, huh? It's kinda like chocolate and women. Okay, we both have our vices...

For the next little gift, I made a cone of chocolate kisses with a cute little tag. It is simple and I think you can follow it okay. I'm not as pleased with this as I'd like to be. My recipient loves Kisses and you can't find fall colored kisses where I live, except for Halloween, which has all been cleared off the shelf. So I elected to go ahead with these and use Christmas Kisses. I used PTI's Fall Elegance stamps for the tag and my scalloped rectangle Nesties.


And lastly, here are the little placecards I made for our small family. I thought it would be good to have words describing this "thankful" season instead of names. I used PTI's beautiful Fall Elegance set which fit perfectly inside the Spellbinders Fancy Tags. I saw this basic idea here. (Thanks Kimberly!) These are real easy but a little time consuming...at least more than I anticipated but I love the end result. I only decorated the front of the clip so it would stand up at an angle.



Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance
Ink: Always Artichoke ink and marker
Paper: Pumpkin Spice, Naturals Ivory, Old Olive scrap piece
Accessories: Oval Nestabilities and Spellbinders Fancy Tags Die, MS Leaf Punch, Copper Stickles, Pumpkin Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Large Dimensional Glue Dot, Medium Binder Clip, double sided tape, adhesive

Cut a Fancy Tag from the NI cardstock. Stamp the words in the center of them. Place a dot of the Copper Stickles at the points and set aside to dry. Cut 5 ovals from PP cardstock. Go around the edges with the AA marker and fold them in half. Place a piece of DS tape on each side and lay one on top of the other. When finished you will have a circle that will make the "pumpkin". Punch out 3 leaves from OO cardstock. Cut an 8" piece of ribbon. Now you're ready to assemble.

I found it better to go ahead and tie the ribbon on the clip first. Apply a little glue to the leaves and add to the back of the pumpkin. Place the large dimensional glue dot on the front of the clip then press the pumpkin into it and hold just a second. Be sure that it doesn't fall below the bottom of the clip or it will not stand properly. You want it to be at a small angle so you can read it without picking it up. Add the tag to the top of the clip. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.