Chocolate Baroque: Gifts For Christmas

Good morning, everyone. We are now a fortnight away from Christmas. Ideally all your cards should be in the mail and it's time to look at finalising the gifts. I've got 3 projects to help you make those pressies extra special.

1. Gift Card Holder

Gift cards make perfect presents ... when you run out of ideas! It can be a special gift when housed in a beautiful box. And you can't beat the wow factor of heat embossing.

Red and Gold - always a striking combo. That magnificent tree is from the Turtle Doves A5 sheet, heat embossed in gold and matted on gold card stock. I also did some tone-on-tone stamping in the background with the little snowflake from the Snowy Scenes A5 sheet with Versamark. To help secure the box I used some gold ribbon, tied in a bow.

This is a top opening box, revealing a pocket for the gift card in a slide-up mechanism. The sentiment is from the Christmas Magic clear stamp set, heat embossed in gold. Here's a video tutorial  by Dawn of Dawn's Stampin Thought.

Challenges:
Inkspirational Challenges #71: Anything Goes With Gold
Sweet Stampin: Oh Christmas Tree
Winter Wonderland:Christmas Presents


2. Gift bag

If you're super organised and have all your gifts ready for giving, how about making gift bags to house them. The WRMK Gift Bag Punch Board, available from the Chocolate Baroque store, makes light work of it. Here's one I prepared earlier:

After the rich opulence of the first project, I like the light fresh look of this one. This medium bag came together quickly. I used Spellbinders Oval and Lacey Oval dies to make a handle and tied it with some sheer grey ribbon.

 

The main star is the jolly man from the Santa Baby A5 sheet. He is coloured with water-colour pencils, fussy cut and popped up with foam tape in front of heat embossed snowflakes from the Snowy Scenes A5 sheet.

Here's the behind of the box. I stamped the snowflakes all around using TH Tumbled Glass Distress Ink. 

Now, about water colouring. It definitely is my go to colouring medium when I'm in a hurry. Not only is it easy but is very forgiving. Trust me, it really is so simple. Just lay down the colour as shown below and, using a fine brush, let the water do all the work. No fancy blending or shading.

I used Caran d'Ache Supracolor Soft Aquarelle Pencils: Carmine (Santa's suit); Prussian Blue (Santa's belt); Salmon and Pink (face), Charcoal Grey and Burnt Umber (sack); Light Grey, Silver Grey and White (beard and trimming of suit); Black (boots); Grass Green, Ochre, Scarlet (drum, present, candy cane)

Challenges:
We Do Doobadoo #21: Festive Spirit
Addicted To Stamps #93: Snowflakes
Fussy & Fancy #129: Snowflakes & Ribbon


3. Gift Card and Treat Box

And when you want to spoil someone - go for the double whammy: Gift Card and a treat  - all in one box.

I decorated the top of the box with the wreath from Hearth and Home A4 sheet, coloured with alcohol markers. Keeping it simple with just some ribbon.

Here's closer look at the top of the box. I also added Liquid Pearls to the wreath, which I fussy cut and matted on pearlescent cream CS cut with Spellbinders Labels 4 die. I inked the edges with TH Vintage Photo.

The box opens revealing the gift card in a pop-up mechanism with room for a few golden nuggets! The idea is from Brenda Quintana and she has a fab video tutorial here.

Challenges:
CHNC #207: Urgently Needed Christmas Creation
Sugar Creek #101: Not a CARD
Avenue 613 #102: AG + Optional Gift Packaging

There you have it - three project ideas to help you with your festive preps: Elegant, Playful and Extravagant. There's something for everyone and I hope these projects inspire you to play with your Chocolate Baroque Christmas stamps.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm painfully behind on my commenting. So sorry for that - things have been crazy here. The plan is to pop in for a few visits today... wish me luck! Stay safe and warm, friends!

Beijinhos!