COZY HOLIDAY GIFTING AND TAG IDEAS

You know the saying, “Good things come in small packages!”? TRUTH!!!

feat. WIDE HOUSE BOX & HOLIDAY-ADD ON COMBO*

The Wide House Box Die and Holiday Add-On assemble very similarly to the Tall House Box Die (video tutorial link) and Halloween Add-On (video tutorial link).

Hostess gifts, teacher gifts, co-worker gifts, party favors . . . small, thoughtful tokens can have a HUGE impact when presented in charming packaging! Here are some fab ideas to tuck inside this adorable house box:

• A gift card to the local coffee shop

• Cookies or chocolates (Heath Miniatures are my personal fave, LOL!)

• Lip balm and/or nail polish would be so cute

• Sweet smelling hand-made soap

• Purse or travel sized lotion/hand-sanitizer

• Individually packaged tea bags & honey packets

• Jewelry, like a fun pair of earrings or a necklace

• Pretty hair ties or scrunchies

• Cute stickers, washi tape, magnets and fun shaped paper clips for stationery lovers

• Vials/bottles of essential oils or a mini refillable perfume atomizer

• Battery operated tea lights or strings of mini LED fairy lights (the house box can be safely lit up as a decor item)

• A personalized key ring or fob

These are actually useful and fun gifts for any occasion, not just the holidays. Heck, it’s just as much fun to present cash inside one of these as I’m sure it is to receive! I have no doubt you will come up with even MORE ideas for great tiny gifts. Just sayin’ . . . ! 😉

feat. WIDE HOUSE BOX & HOLIDAY-ADD ON COMBO (also available separately)

Santa and his sleigh are designed to attach and fit between the flaps of the roof peaks; I like to die cut two or three and layer them together before before attaching, especially if I’m working with 80# or lighter weights of card stock.

You can mix and match the windows/doors between the Wide House Box and the Holiday Add-On sets for a lot of versatility. The little gables look so cute on the snow capped roof and there’s even a wreath for the door and a tree in the Holiday Add-On set.

If you read my post the other day, I mentioned watching from the window as the family played in the snow, while sipping a coffee and Baileys . . .

feat. COZY CUPPA STAMP & DIE COMBO (also available separately) / MODERN TAGS DIE SET

A holiday, or even a simple, plain white mug serves as a “gift box”, and nestled among the paper shreds are a mini bottle of Baileys (a fun grocery store find—yes, I found 3 mini bottle packs of these at the grocery store! SCORE!!!) and some instant coffee packets!

My design elements from Cozy Cuppa were all watercolored, 3D mounted to a simple tag and tied to the bottle. Whip up a stack of tags and you’ve got an easy peasy, enchanting gift ensemble!

feat. COZY CUPPA STAMP & DIE COMBO (also available separately)

This adorable design just makes me think of my granddaughters—they love hot cocoa. AND marshmallows. So fun to tuck a gingerbread cookie and a candy cane inside to boot! Like the tag, I watercolored all the elements and that background was made by dragging my Tattered Rose Distress OXIDE Ink Pad across the front of the card and then dotting it with a white gel pen before assembling the rest of the card.

And, don’t forget the Stickles.

Speaking of which . . . what’s the golden rule about Stickles? Anybody? Anybody?

Need a super simple, highly impressive gift tag you can mass produce quickly?

feat. COZY SWEATER TAG

This one is perfect for those of you who are short on time, long on love, LOL! I’m a sucker for a pretty sweater and this one has such a lovely pattern! I REALLY love to “deboss” it into watercolor paper because it’s thicker/heavier and the combination of textures between the pattern and the paper itself just looks and feels so luxe! I also think it looks pretty chic layered with a solid sweater shape underneath in a hue that coordinates with your wrapping paper.

The added bonus is being able to foil the pattern if I want an extra touch of glam!

Yes, you can foil low-profile dies and it doesn’t cut through the paper! Here’s a video I did on the Ellen Hutson YouTube Channel showing how to do that: Hot Foil Stamping with Low Profile Dies (Gemini Foil Press System used at the time; you can, however, also use the Glimmer Foil System by Spellbinders)

Speaking of foiling, you can obtain gorgeous results on that Canson XL Watercolor Paper, as shown on this interactive mailbox die:

feat. HAPPY MAIL DIE / SANTA MAIL HOT FOIL STAMPS / HOLLY IMAGES FROM NORTH POLE GREETINGS STAMP/DIE COMBO

1. After die-cutting the shape, I hot foil stamped the designs I wanted onto the front side of the mail box.

2. After creasing all the main fold lines well (a bone folder really helps because the paper is thicker than average) I inserted a mini brad from my stash, added strong, double-sided sticky tape (1/8” Scor-Tape —great for skinnier/tighter areas— and 1/4” Scor-Tape) to the flaps.

3. Then I positioned a gift card inside and attached all the flaps to assemble, sealing the gift card.

4. I added the mailbox flag, and a stamped/die cut holly sprig to further embellish.

I also foiled a piece of watercolor paper cut to the same dimensions as the gift card—it could be used as a gift tag, without the mailbox, but I think it’s just soooo stinkin’ cute to have a little mini letter to go with! (insert lots of monkey clapping here)

When the recipient pulls on the “handle/latch”, the mailbox door bursts open along the perforations and he/she can then slide the gift card out. SO FUN!!!

Hope you enjoyed these ideas for gifting at the holidays and thanks for stopping by!

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Disclosure: I include affiliate links to the products used in my projects and make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra dimes to you. 🙂 Thank you for buying all the things!

ELLEN HUTSON'S ANNUAL 12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS

ELLEN HUTSON 12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS 2021, DAY 12

Every year, Ellen Hutson hosts the 12 Tags of Christmas, and this year’s theme was Holiday Carols, and you can see my post with all the tips and catch the video at the link above (under the photo). My chosen carol was Holly Jolly Christmas and my friend, and talented fellow stamper, Chari Moss joins me with her interpretation!

Along with the hop there are challenges and a chance to win a shopping spree! You can see all the details there and check out all the gorgeous tags shared by the Ellen Hutson Design Team Members and guests!

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For as long as I can remember, my favorite rendition of this carol has always been by the one and only Burl Ives. And, yes, every year I still watch the classic stop-motion animated Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer as an adult.

In my video towards the end, you’ll see me reference a great recipe for a cheese log. Cuz I do love me a good cheese log! My daughter brought one to our Thanksgiving Feast and our whole family went bonkers over it and I had to have the recipe! I love that it can be a “make-ahead” appetizer and that is so easy, beautiful, colorful and incredibly yummy! I’m sharing the link to it here: Easy Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log by Jen, author of Carlsbad Cravings.

I hope this Season finds you able to safely enjoy some in-person time with family and friends! My family LOVES food and FOOD GIFTS are always a huge hit—I’m totally gifting these cheese logs, with the appropriate tag, too. #handmadegiftswithloveforthewin

Happy Holidays!

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Also, I wanted to give you a heads’ up that I am going to be transitioning to a new email platform; currently my blog’s RSS feed goes out via MailChimp to those of you that signed up. But, how those emails look has always bugged me (like really, really bugged me!), so I’m moving over to FloDesk.

If you’d like to continue receiving updates/news, other yadda yadda via my email list, please sign up! There’s a new form along the bottom right of my site’s home page you can fill out.

If you’re not interested, no worries; I just didn’t want those who are accustomed to receiving that RSS feed via email to miss out when I finish the transition.

Thanks muchly!

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TAG SUPPLIES:

• Sending Holiday Cheer by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps

• Tag Trio by Christine Herrin, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Holiday Sprigs by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps

• Holiday Sprigs by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• Tag It - Christmas, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps

• Samba, Catherine Pooler Ink Pad

• Martini, Catherine Pooler Ink Pad

• VersaMark Ink Pad

• Embossing Magic Bag, Inkadinkado

• Super Shine Silver Stars, HAI Sequins

• Crystal Clear Plastic, Medium Weight 8 1/2' x 11' (10 pk), Essentials by Ellen

• New & Improved Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (6-1/8 X 7), My Sweet Petunia

• Stampendous Embossing Powder, Detail White, 0.76 oz.

• Dual Speed Heat Tool, WOW

• Stainless Tweezers, Elisa's Backporch Design

• Designer Dries Clear Adhesive - 2 oz., Art Institute Glitter

• Solar White - 25 pk, Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock

• Ranger Stickles, Diamond

• Crafter's Companion Gemini Junior

• Platinum 6 Die Cutting And Embossing Machine, Spellbinders Tools

Disclosure: I include affiliate links to the products used in my projects wherever/whenever possible and make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for buying all the things!

EBE SUMMER OF STAMPING RELEASE 3 NOW LIVE

A darling release, Summer Circles, by Pretty Pink Posh exclusively for the Essentials by Ellen Summer of Stamping is now available in the shop and we’re hopping on Instagram with some FAB inspo and prizes to be won!

To enter the giveaways, follow the hop, which begins HERE on the Ellen Hutson Instagram and leave some comment love along the way!

Below, I’m sharing still shots of the projects I created for the release page with this set—I’m so pleased with how they turned out!

feat. SUMMER CIRCLES BY PRETTY PINK POSH FOR ELLEN HUTSON

The beach-themed images in the set are so fun! I watercolored the images before cutting them out with the matching die (sentiment borrowed from Good Day) I’ve been watercoloring most of my projects of late, but this would also be adorable if you white embossed the images on bright colors of card stock and kept the same layout!

I ink blended Limoncello ink onto some Color Me Strips for a quick and easy accent. BOOM!!!

feat. SUMMER CIRCLES BY PRETTY PINK POSH FOR ELLEN HUTSON

These images and the matching dies are just begging to be made into shaker tags! Used these adorable tiny gold and iridescent stars for the bits inside—love how they sparkle! (borrowed and attached the “hanging tag” from the Shaker Globe)

feat. SUMMER CIRCLES BY PRETTY PINK POSH FOR ELLEN HUTSON

More of those Color Me Strips used here, but scroll down to the final photo and you’ll see this card has a super fun twist to it!

feat. SUMMER CIRCLES BY PRETTY PINK POSH FOR ELLEN HUTSON

I used the “sun” shaped and circle dies that coordinate with the stamp set to create this window on the front panel for the sunshine to peek through! It’s nigh impossible to see that detail in a flat-lay, so I tried to take an angled shot this way so you could see the fun peek-a-boo effect! AND, heck yeah, it still will fit into a standard A-2 envelope for mailing! (fist pump)

CAN YOU HEAR ME MONKEY CLAPPING???!!!

If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe to email updates (scroll down to the bottom of the page, on the right) so you’ll be notified when I blog the next release’s samples.

Thanks for stopping by!

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If you’d like more info on products that coordinate well with the Mondo Anthurium, please visit the release page HERE.

Disclosure: Yup, those are affiliate links to the products used in my projects and I make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for buying all the things!

MAKE A HOLIDAY SHAKER TAG

feat. MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS / SHAKER GLOBE DIE

There’s always more than one way to make a shaker, but this one is an easy favorite! I’ve been asked how to get the woodgrain base on the snow globe and it’s honesty very simple, but some things are easier shown than explained, so enjoy the video here or feel free to watch over on YouTube.

I had planned on reserving these tags for adorning my granddaughters’ packages under the tree, but a little 7 year old was giving me those puppy dog eyes and, well, what’s a Nana to do? She caves, that’s what she does. Because they’re made of paper, and she knows she’ll just have to make more when Christmas rolls around . . . •chuckle•

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SUPPLIES:

• Merry Little Christmas by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps - (EH)

• Merry Little Christmas by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies - (EH)

• Shaker Globe by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Designer Dies

• VersaFine Clair Ink Pad, Nocturne - (EH)

• It's A Boy, Catherine Pooler Ink Pad - (EH)

• Coral Cabana, Catherine Pooler Ink Pad - (EH)

• Life Changing Blender Brush - 2 Pack, Picket Fence Studios (LCB-2) - (EH)

• Life Changing Blender Brush - 4 Piece Broad, Picket Fence Studios (LCB-4) - (EH)

• Set of 24, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker - (EH)

• Set of 48, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker - (EH)

• Small Fine Point (23638), Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush - (EH)

• Watercolor Paper Pad 9x12, Canson XL - (EH)

• Solar White - 25 pk, Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock - (EH)

• Woodgrain Embossed 110 lb Tan - 10 Pk, Essentials by Ellen Cardstock - (EH)

• Scrapbook Adhesives Crafty Foam Tape, White - (EH)

• Black Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (6-1/8 X 7), Hero Arts - (EH)

• Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (6-1/8 X 7), My Sweet Petunia - (EH)

• New & Improved MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (8-1/8 X 10-1/2), My Sweet Petunia - (EH)

• Stainless Tweezers, Elisa's Backporch Design - (EH)

• HAI Supply Direct Super Shine Silver Stars - (HAI)

• Prisma Glitter, Lawn Fawn - (EH)

• Crystal Clear Plastic, Medium Weight 8 1/2" x 11" (10 pk), Essentials by Ellen - (EH)

• Thick Foam Sheets - Double Sided Adhesive, Cheery Lynn Designs - (EH)

• 3mm (1/8"), Be Creative Tape - (EH)

• Strawberry, Avery Elle Hemp Twine - (EH)

• Crafter's Companion Gemini Junior - (EH)

• Platinum 6 Die Cutting And Embossing Machine, Spellbinders Tools - (EH)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links; if you see something you like, want or need, and purchase via my links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, which I use to buy coffee, which fuels my creativity and provides energy to make more card ideas. And, pay the rent.

The 12 Tags of Christmas 2019

This set of tags was inspired by the holiday song, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”—from the claymation movie I’ve watched every Christmas season since I was a weeble! After I got done with these I had to laugh because they TOTALLY remind me of PEZ candy dispensers! (chuckle)

I didn’t actually film the making of them at the time I made the set, but later on, I did. I didn’t have time to do a voiceover so it’s high speed, set to music.

Santa and the gang will make sure your gifts are delivered to the right recipient, and rather cutely, I might add. (wink)

I don’t think I can actually give this set away to anybody—I’m going to need all the tags I make . . . LOL!

Thanks for stopping by and hope your holiday season is allowing you some creative/crafty time amongst all the hustle and bustle!

Be sure to check out the Ellen Hutson 12 Tags of Christmas series and challenges HERE!

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SUPPLIES*:

• Holiday Characters by Julie Ebersole, Essentials By Ellen Clear Stamps

• Holiday Characters by Julie Ebersole, Essentials By Ellen Designer Dies

• Set of 36, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker

• Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker Set B, Set of 12

• Small Fine Point (23638), Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush

• VersaFine Clair Ink Pad, Nocturne

• Watercolor Paper Pad 9x12, Canson XL

• Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Wax Lips, 25 pk

• Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Wax Lips, 10 pk

• Desert Storm - 25 pk, Neenah Environment Cardstock

• Solar White Heavyweight 110 lb - 25 pk, Neenah Classic Crest Cardstock

• Neutral Glitter, Concord & 9th Paper Pack

• Glitzy Metallics Fall 6 X 6 Paper Stacks, American Crafts Specialty Paper

• American Crafts Specialty Paper, Christmas Glitter

• Scrapbook Adhesives Thin 3-D Foam Squares, Mix White

• Ranger Stickles, Gold

• Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 oz.

• Chisel Tip, ZIG 2 Way Glue

• Gold Foil Spots, HAI Washi Tape

• String by the Spool - Metallic Gold, May Arts

• Deluxe 12 Inch Paper Trimmer with Aluminum Cut Rail, Fiskars

• Tonic Comfort 8.5 Inch Guillotine Paper Trimmer by Tim Holtz

• Crafter's Companion Gemini Junior

• Platinum 6 Die Cutting And Embossing Machine, Spellbinders Tools

*Affiliate links are included in this post; when you shop via my links I receive a small commission from the affiliate provider. Thank you for all your support!