Cathy Soeher's four sided triangle box is cute and so adaptable for any occasion. She used wheels to add colour quickly.
A cute tag hangs from the hemp that ties that box closed.
There is probably a template out there for these. If I come across it, I'll let you know!
Happy stampin' and Blessings! - Ann
Now this one looks like a lot of work!
This is a Party Cracker, hand-made!
Pat Duggan printed a pattern directly onto the patterned paper. Some very careful cutting was undertaken to make these.
There is even a real "cracker" piece - the part that goes snap when you open a typical party cracker in here!
I see these getting incorporated into a Christmas class next year... Remind me!
Happy stampin' and Blessings, Ann
Night of Navy cardstock covers this little brown notions bag.
It looks as though Debbie b punched out the scallops, but she actually accented each loop with a marker.
Tone on tone stamping give this packet a very subtle look.
Happy Stampin' and Blessings, Ann
Laurie Markham's is the most unique design I've seen yet for hot chocolate!
She machine stitched this one, so once it's open, there will be no container to keep for inkspiration - good thing I've got a picture of it! The Real Red poofy part is a folded flap with a little zippy bag of mini marshmallows inside. How cute is that snowman from It's Snow Time, layered onto the scallop punch. It's SNow Time, is a big favourite, and it's on the retirement list, so if you love snowmen, you may want to check it out in the catalogue and give me a call.
Happy stampin' and blessings, Ann
It's been a busy week with Christmas plans, team meeting, and a honker of a sinus infection on top of it. The blogging slipped there, right in the midst of our Christmas advent package countdown -so sorry!
Well there's lots to look at today, isn't there? So let's get started!
This pretty packet by Lisa MacTaggart is so clever. The piece that ribbon is adhered to slides out of the cover. It's kept in by a clever use of the slot punch to keep it from sliding right on out the other side.
She used Peaceful Wishes, a Christmas favourite of mine, and combined River Rock, Always Artichoke and Blush Blossom. Yes Blush Blossom. She pulled that colour from the contents of the zippy bag thats stapled to the Blush piece. Can you tell what's inside?
It's course salt - at first glance I thought it was bath salts, but on reading the info that is attached to the bag, I think it's edible. This is pink salt. Here's what it says:
The gift of salt is an ancient custom to wish someone prosperity.
This is pink salt that was harvested at 3000 meters above sea level in the heart of the Andes Mountains. The unique colour comes form the minerals and trace elements found in the pure ancient sea salt deposits.
After the last year or two we've had, we could use a little prosperity - thanks, Lisa for your good wishes!
Isn't this just a classic look? The white notions bag is neatly folded down once, and then she attached this tidy front that makes the bag look gift-wrapped. Snowflake Joy is the featured stamp set and Real Red and Always Artichoke are the featured colours.
This pretty matchbook style packet is quite tiny compared to the others you've seen.
It contained a cute set of beaded earrings. So not only can Carole Moore stamp, but she makes jewellry, or knows someone who does! Very pretty use of the holiday patterned paper.
I'll be back tomorrow with another great packaging idea for you!
Happy stampin' and blessings! - Ann
Here's the advent packet for December 17th, made by Jennifer Maddock.
This paper bag has been decorated with Dashing paper, nad wide Olive grosgrain. Don't you like the way she created a window with the scallop punch and placed a stamped layer below it?
This bag is heavy - it contains chocolate cookie mix. Can't wait to try it!
Wow - didn't Kim Henderson do a terrific job with the watercolouring on this! This set is It's Snow Time - it's on the retired list, so after this month, it's gone FOREVER! We won't see it in the Fall/Winter catalogue that will come out next July, so if you find it adorable, now is the time to contact me and order yours.
This is a 4 1/4 x 8 1/2 piece of cardstock scored at 5 and 10 1/4 inches to create the matchbook look.
The truly clever part of this packet, is the way that she inserted the hot chocolate packet inside:
Isn't this so neat? She used a hole punch to create 4 holes and cut between them to create the tab that the hot chocolate mix slides under.
This is an idea I'll have to remember!
Happy Stampin'! and Blessings! - Ann
Heather Arsenault covered a Dixie cup with Wintergreen patterned paper. To cover the treats she tucked inside, she stamped with a stamp from Season of Joy and punched it out with an oval scallop punch. The stretchy silver cord threaded through two ends holds this lid onto the cup.
This package, created by Chery Wencel, started out as cardstock that she rolled on with a Stampin' Around wheel. It is cut and scored and folded up to get the triangle shape.
This packet, created by Erica Toet, is the second sour cream container we've seen in our advent swap and these packets look super cute done in patterned paper. (No there's no sour cream in them - I guess maybe sour cream came in containers shaped like this once upon a time??? Before my time...)
You could use stamped cardstock as well... for a custom look.
I think I promised earlier in the month that I'd show you how to make these. They are so very easy, and once you know how, you can vary the size for whatever surprise you are tucking inside.
Here goes:
You will need:
piece of patterned paper, cardstock or vellum (stamped as desired) - size will depend on what you are packaging. This one is cut to 4 x 5 1/2 inches.
adhesive - SNAIL or Sticky Strip
crimper, if desired
Apply your dry adhesive of choice along the back of one of the short sides of the cardstock. I like to apply it to the top of the opposite short side as well, when I am using SNAIL to really help it stick.
Adhere the one side to the other, creating a tube. 
Now apply the adhesive to the inside of one ends of the tube and pinch it shut. (This can be easier if you apply the adhesive to the wrong side of the paper before rolling it into a tube, but sometimes, it is sticking to places you don't want it to stick to while you are creating the tube.)
Place the item(s) inside the pouch. Now adhere and pinch the other end of the tube together in the opposite direction to the first pinch.
This gives the packet the twisted look.
If desired, run each pinched end through the crimper - it creates texture, but it also helps seal those seams.
Now it's basically complete, and ready for you to embellish as desired - punches, glitter, tags, etc.
Have fun with it -and remember that these aren't just for Christmas gifts, but are a very quick way to get a Christmas package done up when you are in a hurry!
Happy Stampin'! and Blessings, Ann
