I only made a few cards for Christmas this year. I wasn't too motivated, but I hopped in to my "workshop" and gave it a go.

I have a friend who loves the llama craze. I have a llama metal die. I'm experimenting with what to do with him. I quickly fashioned this card by creating & printing the sentiment and background in Adobe Illustrator. It's a cute idea, but I think it needs a lot more to it. What ideas can you share with me to tweak the final design?

I was playing with a couple of "round" metal dies. I used this "star burst" (if you will) and the Merry Christmas die to make a shaker card. Another flop in my opinion. I do see many other possibilities in my mind.

Here is card that has a number of elements added to it. Using Pazzles' software I created the "swirl" flower. It is a popular shape as of present. Again, no need to purchase dies when I can draw it up in Pazzles. In this case, I used the shape as a wreath, layering two of them.

I do love the way the next cards turned out. Simple white cardstock with a tree embossing folder. I used my Pazzles software to create and cut several cardinals and the sentiment. That sentiment is tiny and it took me several tries. But I know Paz could handle it.

Do you make cards for Christmas? Happy Christmas to you!

This month's assignment at made with love (and paper) is timely for Minnesota. It is so cold here, especially this week as I finally get my creation posted.
Our theme for December is Quilted Christmas. Will you play along with us? Our quilted creation is to use contrasting colors, metal/metallic, and a bow or knot.

I am not a quilter. Thank goodness. I found a popular quilted Christmas Tree on the internet. And while it was easy enough to create my pattern using my Pazzles software, it was not so easy for me to assemble for real.

I made the Wonky Christmas Tree by creating trapezoids. Then I drew in the gold trim.

To help layout the tree, I copied and then I welded the trim (image on right). It was still a challenge for me. I think my brain was frozen from our Zero degree high temp today.

I even viewed my pattern in the Wire Frame. At least the final assembly is forgiving enough that I could play with it. I have included it in this post in case you need a little extra help with your assembly process. And I think it's just fine to admit our struggles.

Here are shots of my assembly process:

I used this Wonky Tree to make a card. Finishing it with a little faux stitching on the corners. Happy Christmas.

Each of the Pazzles Design Team Members have opened up their elf workshops this week and created some DIY Christmas ornaments to share with you. We hope to inspire you to create your own special ornaments this year. I hope you will take a look at the Pazzles Website to see ornaments that the other team members have made.

I am excited to present to you this Jolly Santa Ornament. He went together quite quickly using Pazzles’ Tall Pyramid Box file.

I used two files from Pazzles’ Craft Room Library to make the white hat trim: Large_Circle_Scallops & Scallop Tag. With the InVue software, I layered the oval in front of the circle. Then I used Subtract Weld for the final look (deleting any extra pieces). You can see the finished shape for the hat trim on the right side of the picture.

You can use the same scallop for the ball on the pointed top of the hat. Santa’s moustache came from the Six Moustaches file. (You might choose a different look.)

To make his face, I drew an oval. Then I added two circles for the eyes. You can choose to cut circles to glue on the front of his face. Or you might cut the oval WITH two circles also cut OUT. Then place a slightly smaller black oval on the back of the face. I think the second method gives a cleaner look to the eyes. The mouth and nose are also circles. Add some embellishing before assembling. Then, piece the face.

For Santa’s beard take one side of the pyramid cut file and cut the point off at 2.25” from the bottom. I chose to emboss the beard piece for added texture.

I chose to adhere Santa to the pyramid box while the box is still flat. You may instead assemble the box and then adhere Santa. The jolly elf is complete. You will see that the box opens on one side. You can add some sweets as a surprise. "And To All, A Good Night!"

Files From Pazzles' Craft Room Library:
Tall Pyramid Box
Large_Circle_Scallops
Scallop Tag
Six Moustaches

Holiday Greetings to all of you. Welcome to this year's Pazzles' Holiday Hop. Hopefully you have arrived from Scrapping Klo's blog. If not, the full list is at the bottom of this post. I am your last stop! Hasn't it been fun to see all the wonderful creations that can be made with the amazing versatility of the Pazzles Inspiration and Pazzles Inspiration Vue? This has been so fun! I want to share that the Pazzles is the only cutting machine I have ever had. I am not a techie nor can I draw. I am amazed at how Pazzles has helped bring out my creativity. I did not know it was in me!! I love my Pazzles!!

I have a couple of decorations to share with you. I will list the files that I used at the end of the post. First let me show you my brilliant idea for those unwanted CDs that you have lying around. Did you know that Pazzles can Engrave many types of items? Yes! Acrylic, Plastic, Hard Vinyl, Wood, even Glass!! I put the CDs and Pazzles Engraving Tool together to make these lovely ornaments. You can go with a one sided CD or a two-sided CD. The beauty is that you can engrave both sides. I tried to drill a hole for hanging, but it damaged the CD. So I made two CDs the exact same and adhered them together. Or you can make one side decorative and the other to say Christmas and the year.* Be sure to look at the details.

Here is some detail:

Another wonderful use for Pazzles is to cut Vinyl! Yes! We are going crazy in Pazzles Land applying Vinyl to everything that does NOT move!! Here is a simple idea to help you count down to Christmas. I took an inexpensive Charger Plate and painted the middle with chalk board paint. I measured the various "circles" on the charger. Again, I laid out my text in the software.* Then I cut the vinyl and applied. Easy. For this Countdown I used Pazzles' Silver and White Vinyl.

Files From the Pazzles Craft Room Library:
Snow Flakes, Various
Santa's Sleigh
Ornament
Fonts, built in to the software

*{Please Note: If you have Pazzles Inspiration Software, you can curve text easily using the "Fit Text to Circle" tool. If you have InVue software, at this point you will have to curve your words letter by letter by eye-balling it. (The Fit Text to Path/Circle has been requested as an upgrade to the InVue software.}
Also note that the Engraving with InVue Software can only outline the letters at this point. The techs are working on the issue so that the engraving will not fill in holes in letters (like in b and e). If you figure it out, let us know!

All hops need a little something to sweeten them up. Especially at Christmas. Leave a comment for your chance to win a $30 Pazzles Gift Card. Leave a comment on each of the blogs by Tuesday December 9, 2014 for more chances to win. One lucky hopper will be chosen and notified on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. Terms and Conditions: Open only to people aged 18 or older. Giveaway ends midnight MST, December 9, 2014. Only one entry per person per blog please. One winner will be chosen via random drawing. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

Thanks for joining us today. We truly hope that you were inspired. Now to go shopping . . . Pazzles' !
Have A Happy Pazzles Hoppin' Holiday.

Now, just in case you started here at Krista's Paper Cafe, here is the order of the hop:
Melin at My Paper Crafting
Heidi at It's What I Do
Belle at Flutterbelle Creations
Joanna at I Love 2 Cut Paper
Michelle at Bits & Pieces Paper Lab
Klo at Scrapping Klo
Krista at Krista's Paper Cafe

A number of us at the Pazzles Fans facebook page have been playing with Vinyl and Shadow Boxes for the Christmas Season. These will make great gifts! Join us! Or, as always, I am happy to take your custom order.

Hey Gang! I have been busy making Christmas cards. We are getting so close to Christmas. Please take a look in my Etsy shop and see if you find something you like. I can even send the card directly to the recipient for you.

Excuse me as I am sending this post a second time as Miss Elf now has a helper--Mr Elf!!

This is so fun! This Elf cut file is designed by Cheryl at Creative Kuts. It is actually 3D and is made with candy canes! We eat very little sugar at our house, so I used pipe cleaners. Because I used pipe cleaners, I used hot glue to adhere the body parts. My elf is a bit long legged (like me) but I think that is even more fun! I think this project is pretty kid-friendly. I am going to pre-cut the peices and invite the kids at Thanksgiving dinner to make one. There is a male version also. I hope you enjoy looking at this cutie pie! (I think that this will not be in the CK Store until Monday.)

A warm holiday welcome from Krista's Paper Cafe. This month at made with love (and paper) we were invited to focus on Christmas. However, we are to incorporate our top five craft supplies. So I cheated a bit. I started my blog about 2 years ago. Today's creation is a adaption of something I created 2 Christmases back. But it had 4 of my top 5 craft items, so I had to re-do it, adding the fifth element!

If you go to that original post, you will see that it's creation and today's are very similar. The main diffrence is that instead of a card, it is now a tag.

My Top 5 Craft Supplies
1. Fiber
2. Word Circle Digital Stamp
3. Paper Piecing Cut File
4. Tag
5. Patterned Paper

Why These Craft supplies?
I am really attracted to the “word circle” digital stamp pattern. I love playing with creating my own. I also created the goose piecing myself with the help of my Pazzles personal cutter. When I first joined the web world of crafting I was introduced to tags, and invited to be on a tag creative team. I had zero experience with tags. They have come to be one of my "top 5 craft supplies." Tags are so versatile. Who in paper crafts is not a paper addict?! There are too many choices in this blessed world in which we live. I would love to dress in craft paper . . . someday . . . And finally, if you have been a follower, you know I go nuts over fibers!!

**I just might have a test on this later on my facebook fan page. You might win a prize!!

Remember you can join us at made with love (and paper) and submit your own Christmas creation with your fav supplies.

Christmas is Coming,
The goose is getting fat.
Will you please put a penny in the old man's hat . . . .

Can you believe I learned that song in the first grade? 37 years later, I still know it. I had a wonderful first grade teacher. (She also moved up with us to second grade.) As well, my dad's mom was German and raised her family on a Minnesota farm. I loved visiting Grandma's house as a child and being treated to a farm fresh goose!! Good memories!

The song popped in my head (and the memories) and I knew right away how I could turn it into a Christmas card! I have been playing with creating my own "word circle" digital stamps. I am really attracted to this stamp pattern. I also created the goose myself with the help of my Pazzles personal cutter. Pretty good for someone who can't even draw a stick person. I think this goose is nice and plump though!

I have been creating Christmas items for The Paper Cafe. I hope that I can assist you in making fond memories this Christmas with some of my cards and tags. So stop on in and see what you can find. More items listed every few days!

Let me know if there is something I can create for you. Maybe there is a memory or an element from your past that you want to recreate. I love those custom orders!

See the new entries under the Shop Section labeled Christmas/Winter.

First off, the Creatvie Team that I am on has a new name and look. We are now called Creative Paper Artists.

My first tag challenge for December is to create a hang tag that reflects a Vintage Christmas, using glittered snow, a poinsettia flower, some form of metal and a ribbon.
So, I knew right away what I was going to do . . . I turned my "tag" into a Christmas Ornament--a VINTAGE ornament.

I used shimmery paper for the ornament and a cream paper with a sheen for the poinsettia. You need to look closely at the poinsettia to see the "glittery snow."

I am happy with this. I think I will make a few to sell at the Paper Cafe.

I am still very new at paper crafting. I am learning how to use my supplies and tools. I have noted that when I cut foil paper on my Pazzles that I need to reverse the paper to get a clean edge (without a sloppy white border). (You can see that on the red edge of the ornament.)