Handmade Holiday Blog Hop - Day 3

Welcome to the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!!

Calling all crafters! We ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could make for the holidays, all in one place on this Hop!

To sweeten the Hop, we're offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you'll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors!

 I am here representing Graphic 45, and here is the amazing prize pack they have to offer!

 Beautiful Christmas Emporium collection 12 x 12 and 8 x 8 paper pads along with the 5x8 Altered Art Box, Altered Art Metal Tin and a Metal Ornate Metal Door Plate. A $75 value!

There are lots more chances to win! Visit the blogs of these fabulous companies including Clearsnap and leave a comment saying that Graphic 45 sent you! Each company is offering a fabulous prize pack and your comment is all you need to enter to win their prize pack! The winners will be randomly drawn from the comments left on all of the blogs.  There a lots of chances to win with this fun Holiday Blog Hop! Have fun and soak up the craft joy!

Deadline: comments to be left on each blog by Nov 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST for your chances to win BIG!!!

I also wanted announce that I am holding a little giveaway of my own in the spirit of the Holidays!!!

For your chance to win my prizepack, available only right here, all you have to do is Follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know! 

It's that easy!

If you are already a follower, just let me know in your comment and you will be entered!

One Winner will be chosen at random and announced right here Monday Nov. 7th @ 7pmEST. 

Here is what you could win from me...

Graphic 45 8 x 8 Christmas Emporium Paper pad, Graphic 45 Metal Brads, Envelope tags and Envelope album.  One Dozen of my stemmed handmade paper flowers created using Christmas Emporium Papers,  Clearsnaps Moonlight Smooch and Green Olive Smooch Spritz!!! 

Now onto my Handmade Gift Idea!

This is just a small wooden box with a door and 5 glass windows that you can pick up at any local craft store. 

It may look like something very detailed, but can be created in only a few easy steps!

To start out. I painted the trim on the windows white.  Then cut strips of paper to cover the small amounts of wood showing on the inside and ouside of the box.

For the inside I wanted the look of wallpaper, and for the outisde the look of a gingerbread house.

Here is what it looked like as a box covered with paper and just decorated on the front.

No Roof Added..

 After covering the walls with wallpaper you are ready to create the simple shadowbox scene inside. 

To get started right click the clip art provided and save it, size to box and print off.

Once image is printed onto heavy cardstock, cut out the fireplace including Santa. 

 For added depth, print image off twice and cut Santa out to pop dot over first image. 

Adhere to back "wall" of box using pop dots.

Should look like this...

Cut out and add Graphic 45 stocking from Believe paper, Christmas Emporium Collection.

Add some shimmer with Smooch Accent inks, and move onto to the next few quick steps:

Now add a pre decorated mini Christmas tree found at any craft store in front of the fire place.

In front of the Christmas tree, cut and add image of People from Happy Holidays Paper.

And Last of all for the inside, cut out the cute little rocking horse from Toyland paper and adhere on left, in front of tree. 

Now you have a gorgeous looking shadowbox with tons of depth that was created with very little cutting of images!

Now for the Roof...

To create this super easy roof all you need is some heavy chipboard a ruler and razor knife.

Measure the length of the top of your box and cut a piece of chipboard that is over half the size.

My roof was 4" long so I cut my chipboard to 8"long.

Once chipboard is to size, find the center width wise and lightly "score" the center by cutting only the top few layers of chipboard.

Fold in half creating a peak.

Paint Roof and glitter as desired, making sure to paint the underside that may show.

For strength create 2 triangles or "soffits" (in housing terms) out of heavy chipboard at the angle you would like you roof to be. 

Cover Triangles with paper on the outside, and adhere one triangle to premade roof to help keep shape.

Due to a slight roof overhang, and to make placement easier attach the second Triangle to the top of your box using heavy duty adhesive.

(I didn't decorate the top of my box since I knew it would be hidden by the roof)

  Add one more strip of heavy duty adhesive to the front of your box top where the other triangle that is attached to roof will rest. 

Make sure in placing your roof, to leave room for your door to open!

Last Attach your roof and add Santa in his Sleigh!

For the front cut out some Holly from G45's Christmas Emporium Papers. 

Use some matching Hampton Arts Stamps to create the wonderful stamped image inside a frame.

Add some G45 chipboard and a few little nick nacks, and don't forget adding a snowy look, or brightening up your berries using

Smooch Accent Inks!

Finish the whole thing off with 4,  G45 Metal Brads glued to the bottom as feet.  This will help your door to easily open and close rather than catching on the table. 

And that's how to make a simple box, into a simple fun Shadowbox Christmas House using yummy Graphic 45 products!! 

This piece is not only great as a gift, but would be the perfect centerpiece to your buffet set atop a cake plate with some fresh greens!  Or place it amongst some Greenery and strands of Christmas Lights on the mantle and watch the glass sparkle!

Please Scroll Below Supply List For Instructions On Where To Hop Next!!!

Supplies Used:

Finished project Measures Approx: 8 1/2" x 6"

Graphic45 Papers:

Christmas Emporium: Under the Mistletoe, Toyland, Happy Holidays, Tis the Season, Believe, Santa Express

Renaissance Faire: Awakening

Graphic 45 Staples: Metal Brads, Christmas Emporium Chipboard Tags 1

Hampton Arts: Christmas Emporium Cling Stamps 1

Clearsnap Colorbox Decades Inks: Triumphant Red, Antique Moss, Photogenic

Smooch: Siren, Moonlight, Top Coat, Gold Lame, Frosted Aqua

Creamy Brown Fluid Chalk Ink

Fiskars: Scalloped Border Punch, craft knife

Ranger: Rock Candy Distress Stickles, Ink Blending Tool

Melissa Francis: Mini Resin Frames

Scrapbook Adhesives: 3D Foam Squares

Tombow: Glue Stick

Scor Tape

Other: E6000, Hot Glue Gun, mini wreath, bell, wooden box, chipboard, white paint, glass glitter, vintage clipart, mini candy cane, printer, ruler

Today
Nov 6 - Day 3

Clearsnap http://clearsnap.blogspot.com
Spellbinders http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/Community/Blog.aspx
Hampton Art - http://blog.hamptonart.com/
Zutter http://binditall.blogspot.com/
Graphic45 http://g45papers.typepad.com/
Donna Salazar Designs http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/
The Twinery - http://www.thetwineryblog.com/
Authentique Paper http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/
Glue Arts - http://gluearts.blogspot.com/

Sabrina Alery Clearsnap http://sabrinaalery.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison Graphic 45 http://www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com/
Karen Taylor Donna Salazar Designs - http://creativeyearnings.blogspot.com/
Beverly Sizemore Hampton Art http://bevscreativepath.blogspot.com/
Kazan Clark Spellbinders http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/
Janeen Shember Authentique Paper http://suburbngypsy.blogspot.com/
Charlotte Jenkins Clearsnap http://suepup.blogspot.com/
Grace Hester The Twinery http://gracehester.typepad.com/
Nicole Eccles Graphic45 http://nicoleeccles.blogspot.com/ <--- YOU ARE HERE
Audrey Pettit Donna Salazar Designs - http://audreypettit.wordpress.com/
Nan Paturzo Zutter http://scrappynan.blogspot.com/
Jeannie DeGruccio Authentique Paper http://polkacabana.wordpress.com/
Tamara Tripodi - Glue Arts http://happylifecraftywife.com/

                            Thanks so much for joining in on this Outstanding Holiday Hop!

Don't forget to leave those comments for a chance to win what all these wonderful companies are giving away. 

Plus Follow my blog and leave me a comment for a chance to win my Holiday giveaway!!

Remember to buy and create handmade gifts from the heart this holiday season!

Happy Hopping!
Enjoy The Journey!

Nicki Chicky