Last-minute gift idea

Need one more holiday gift?

There is still time to make an amazing bookmark, like this, with products you probably already have at home. Here's how Candy made this one:

Cut a piece of cardstock to the size of the bookmark you want. (Candy used white)

Place it in the Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (or one of the Tim Holtz folders would work, too) and emboss with the Big Shot or similar cutting tool. (This is the Christmas and Thin Ice set.)

Round the corners using a corner rounder.

Lightly apply Barn Door Distress Ink with an ink applicator. This will add color to the raised areas and a hint to the rest.

Then, to add a bit more dimension, go over it again, with an even lighter hand, with Fired Brick.

Here's the cool part ...
Turn the Distress Ink Embossing Pad over and lightly run it across the surface of the tag (or bookmark). Don't worry about it being perfect.

Now, add UTEE and heat.

It should look something like this ... almost like the ornaments are glass! When Candy made hers, the ornaments near the edges of the paper didn't get quite as much UTEE, but they still look great.

Now, add Ranger's new Liquid Pearls to the dots on the ornaments for even more texture and dimension.

Candy also added a sticker from the new Seasonal Salvage Stickers by Tim Holtz, a mini safety pin, a strip of ribbon (colored with Distress Ink), a scrap of ribbon and the mini brads by Tim Holtz.

To make the bookmark a little thicker, and to cover the back side, Candy attached another piece of white cardstock to the back, trimmed it to fit, and then went around the entire edge with Fired Brick Distress Ink.

The Crop-a-Dile easily punches a hole at the top for an eyelet. Candy then added some of the Baubles and a Swivel Clasp by Tim Holtz and a bit more ribbon to the top.

It could be a bookmark or a tag for a holiday gift, but it is pretty enough to hang on the tree!

Inspired by Tim Holtz

Tim Holtz just finished this year's 12 Tags of Christmas ... on Day 2, he showed us how to make a custom ink pad for stamps. You can find the instructions here.

Candy was inspired to try the technique using a Santa stamp.

Here's a closer look ...

Candy embossed the image with UTEE (the only clear embossing powder she had on hand) immediately after stamping it. Who knew you could get such unique results by embossing Distress Ink!

Christmas tags

Jamie, one of our Design Team members, came up with these simple, but adorable tags using paper from My Mind's Eye's Haunted Collection and stickers from Little Yellow Bicycle. For more details, visit her blog at jamielanedesigns.blogspot.com or stop in the store for a closer look.