American Crafts Studio Blog

Introducing mini-garlands: Flutterbys!

We have a treat for you today, as we debut one of our newest products at American Crafts: Flutterbys!

 

 

Garlands are everywhere these days, from wedding receptions to scrapbooking layouts. We love their versatility, so here at American Crafts we’ve created a new product to make adding that festive touch oh-so-easy. Introducing Flutterbys — pre-made, paper mini-garlands in six fantastic designs!

 

 

From birthday parties to baby showers to the simple, everyday events, these little beauties are perfect for cards, scrapbooking, parties and home décor. They come in flat 12x12-inch sheets, and all you have to do is pull the loose string and listen as each piece releases from the page. Pop. Pop. Pop. (Ah, the satisfaction of paper crafting!)

 

 

 

 

What do you think? How would you use Flutterbys in your crafting, celebrating and decorating? Let us know by commenting on this post by Friday at midnight (MST) and we'll pick a winner to win one of each of the new Flutterbys!

 

Christmas Cards by Piradee Talvanna

 Another fun-filled day of Christmas cards! This time Piradee Talvanna shares a delightful pair:

 

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas Card by Piradee Talvanna

Supplies: Sinter Klaas Paper (35479) - Hollyday, Bowl Full of Jelly Paper (35488) - Hollyday, Christmas Gnome Paper (35498) - Hollyday, Old Man Winter Paper (35480) - Hollyday, Printed Variety Tags (85555) - Bits, Peppermint (72014) - Delights, Winter Wonderland Accent & Journaling Stickers (42201) - Remarks Books, Garland (89407) - Premium Ribbon

A Merry Little Christmas Card by Piradee Talvanna

Supplies: Red Suit Paper (35499) - Hollyday, Variety Buttons (85558) - Elements, Winter Wonderland Accent & Journaling Stickers (42201) - Remarks Books, Garland (89407) - Premium Ribbon, Holly Jolly (59216) - Clear Stamps

Have you entered the weekly giveaway yet? Make sure you go back to Monday's post for a chance to win the entire Hollyday line!

Christmas Cards by Lilith Eeckels

Lilith Eeckels created a trio of dashing (through the snow!) Christmas cards to inspire you today:

Hand Picked For You By Santa Card by Lilith Eeckels

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock, Red Suit Paper (35499) – Hollyday, Babouschka Paper (35490) – Hollyday, Holiday House Printed Glossy Chipboard Shapes (77252) – House, Garland (89407) – Premium Ribbon, Holly Jolly Paper (59216) – Hollyday, Silver (59526) – Pigment Ink, Clear (27170) – Zing!, Foam Dots (61709) – This to That Adhesive

Merry Christmas Card by Lilith Eeckels

Supplies: Rose's Kitchen Paper (35540) – Garden Café, Daisy's Diner Paper (35539) – Garden Café, Journaling Cards (64011) – Justwrite, Satin Picot White (58475) – Ribbon; Font: Vivaldi

Share the Joy of Christmas Card by Lillith Eeckels

Supplies: White (71081)- Cardstock, Carnation Corner Paper (35538) – Garden Café, Lavendar Grill Paper (35535) – Garden Café, Journaling Cards (64011) – Justwrite, Mousse (78057) – Details, Printed Variety Tags (77256) – Bits

Even more merry (Christmas!) cards will be shown tomorrow!

Christmas Cards Week!

It's that time of year again - time to gather your family, get all dressed up, and say cheese to get that picture-perfect photo to send with your Christmas cards! Why not make your cards as special and good lookin' as the subjects in the photo? We'll get your creative juices flowing with the Christmas cards this week! Leah Farquharson and Leslie Ashe kick off the week with their pairs of cards:

Comfort and Joy Card by Leah Farquharson

Supplies: 12x12 White Cardstock (71081) - AC Cardstock, Snowy (43385) - Minimarks, Christams Song (89387) - Premium Ribbon, White Christmas Paper (42203) - Hollyday, Shiny (78052) - Details, Variety Buttons (85559) - Elements, Dear Lizzy Christmas Medium and Large Brads (85516) - Elements, Dear Lizzy Christmas Assorted Brads (85514) - Elements, Dear Lizzy Christmas Metal Assorted Brads (85513) - Elements, Peachy Keen Corduroy Brads (85538) - Elements, Diamond Brads (85549) - Elements, Patterned Buttons (85530) - Elements, Plastic Buttons (85564) - Elements, Medium Jewel Brads (85565) - Elements, Plastic Buttons (85561) - Elements, Silver Parkling (53102) - Thickers

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Card by Leah Farquharson

Supplies: Sinter Klaas Paper (35479) - Hollyday, Pere Noel Paper (35483) - Hollyday, Bellsnickle Paper (35487) - Hollyday, 12x12 white cardstock (71081) - AC Cardstock, Bright (78053) - Details, Christmas Sleigh (89388) - Premium Ribbon, Wishes (59204) - Stamp Collection, Aqua (59504) - Pigment Ink, Black (59500) - Pigment Ink, Dedication (82303) - Mementos, Winter Blooms (72000) - Delights

 

Holly Jolly Card by Leslie Ashe

Supplies: Santa Baby Paper (35482) – Hollyday, Winter Wonderland (42201) – Remarks Books, Black Fancy (53114) – Thickers, Black Wonder (53262) – Thickers, Dot Glue Runner (61713) – This To That Adhesive, Dimensional Dots (61709) – This To That Adhesive 

Merry Christmas Card by Leslie Ashe

Supplies: Black Cardstock (71082) – AC Cardstock, Tinsel (89408) – Premium Ribbon, Shiny (78052) – Details, White Christmas (42203) – Remarks, Holiday House Glitter Chipboard Shapes (77253) – House, Winter Wonderland (42201) – Remarks Books, Medium Jewel Brads (85565) – Elements, Dot Glue Runner (61713) – This to That Adhesive, Dimensional Dots (61709) – This To That Adhesive

 

For your chance to win the entire Hollyday line (not everything is pictured here), leave a comment on this post by Friday December 2nd 2011 letting us know what your plans are for this holiday season! We'll randomly select one winner and announce them with the Friday morning post.

We've got more Christmas cards to share tomorrow (and the next day, and the next, etc.!)

Hollyday Layout and Card by Cindy Stevens

A round of applause to the randomly selected winner of the Hollyday line (not everything is pictured here), Kelly R.:

We hope to see lots of your Hollyday creations in galleries!

 

Wrapping up (get it - wrapping?!) is Cindy Stevens with a wonderful layout and card:

Santa Gingerbread Man by Cindy Stevens

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock,  Bellsnickle Paper (35487) - Hollyday, Santa Baby Paper (35482) - Hollyday, Whiskers Paper (35502) - Hollyday, Clover Cantina Paper (35537) - Garden Cafe, Cafe Iris Paper (35541) - Garden Cafe, Details, Shiny (78052) - Details, Bright (78053) - Details, Printed Variety Tags (85555) - Bits, Peppermint (72014) - Delights, Winter Wonderland (42201) - Remarksk Books, Eclair Cucumber (53226) - Thickers

Joy Card by Cindy Stevens

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock , Whiskers Paper (35502) - Hollyday, Santa Baby Paper (35482) - Hollyday, Winter Wonderland (42201) - Remarks Books, Shiny (78052) - Details

We'll dedicate an entire week to Christmas cards staring on Monday so you'll have plenty of time to choose your favorites and re-make them before the big day! Have a great weekend!

Hollyday Cards by Revlie Schuit

These three cards were made by Revlie Schuit - aren't they just darling?!

Ho Ho Ho Card by Revlie Schuit

Supplies: Merry Dimples Paper (35496) - Hollyday, Christmas Gnome Paper (35498) - Hollyday, White (71081) - Cardstock, Variety Buttons (85558) - Elements, Garland (89407) - Premium Ribbon, Elf Red (53210) - Thickers

Fa La La Card by Revlie Schuit

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock, Kris Kringle Paper (35492) - Hollyday, Holiday House Printed Glossy Chipboard Shapes (77252) - House, Dimensional Dots (61709) - This to That Adhesive, Frosty Rub Ons (43392) - Minimarks; Other: Green embroidery thread

 

A Merry Little Christmas Card by Revlie Schuit

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock, Jolly Old Elf Paper (35501) - Hollyday, Cherry Nose Paper (35486) - Hollyday, Man with All the Toys Paper (35500) - Hollyday, Merry Dimples Paper (35496) - Hollyday, Old Man Winter Paper (35480) - Hollyday, Kris Kringle Paper (35492) - Hollyday, Santa Baby Paper (35482) - Hollyday, Little St. Nick Paper (35495) - Hollyday, Rose Lips Paper (35491) - Hollyday, Variety Buttons (85558) - Elements, Winter Wonderland (42201) - Remarks Books, Poinsettia (42202) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Holiday House Printed Glossy Chipboard Shapes (77252) - House; Other: Embroidery thread

Are Christmas card ideas rolling around in your head now? We'll dedicate an entire week to the idea starting on Monday! But first we'll wrap up Hollyday week tomorrow with a final layout and card.

Hollyday Projects by Piradee Talvanna

Today Piradee Talvanna has a festive layout and card featuring the Hollyday line to share with you:

Christmas Wishes by Piradee Talvanna

Supplies: Sinter Klaas Paper (35479) - Hollyday, Old Man Winter Paper (35480) - Hollyday, Pere Noel Paper (35483) - Hollyday, Elf Red (53210) - Thickers, Printed Variety Tags (85555) - Bits, Vellum Envelopes (85556) - Bits, Poinsetta (42202) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers, White (71081) - Cardstock

A Merry Little Christmas Card by Piradee Talvanna

Supplies: Sinter Klaas Paper (35479) - Hollyday, Whiskers Paper (35502) - Hollyday, Variety Buttons (85558) - Elements, Printed Variety Tags (85555) - Bits, Peppermint (72014) - Delights, Poinsettia (42202) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Garland (89407) - Premium Ribbon, Stocking Rub Ons (43393) - Minimarks, White (71081) - Cardstock

Some super cute cards will be shown tomorrow - you'll want to re-create them for sure!

Hollyday Banner Tutorial by Pamella Brown

Pamella Brown shares in a step-by-step photo tutorial how to make this ultra cute Hollyday banner:

Supplies: Sinter Klaas Paper (35479) - Hollyday, Santa Baby Paper (35482) - Hollyday, Cherry Nose Paper (35486) - Hollyday, Bellsnickle Paper (35487) - Hollyday, Bowl Full of Jelly Paper (35488) - Hollyday, Man With the Bag Paper (35494) - Hollyday, Jolly Old Elf Paper (35501) - Hollyday, Man With All the Toys Paper (35500) - Hollyday, Old Man Winter Paper (35480) - Hollyday, Whiskers Paper (35502) - Hollyday, White (71081) - Cardstock, Vellum Envelopes (85556) - Bits, Peppermint (72014) - Delights, Holiday House Printed Glossy Chipboard (77252) - House, Poinsettia (42202) - Remarks, Winter Wonderland (42201) - Remarks Books

Step 1: Type activities and print them out onto white cardstock. Trim them into individual pieces and set aside.

Step 2: Trim 24 pieces of Hollyday patterned paper to 2 x 4".

Step 3: On each piece of patterned paper, about a half inch up from the bottom, make a dot in the middle. Then trim/cut from the dot down to each of the bottom corners to create a piece of your banner.

Step 4: From the Man With All the Toys patterned paper, cut out numbers 1-24. Set the numbers aside.

Step 5: Set out all of the pieces of your banner and top with a vellum envelope and a number in a way that the colors/patterns are pleasing to you.

Step 6: Stitch together the tops of the banner. I did it on a very slow speed and when I got to the edge of a piece, I would just feed the next piece through my sewing machine until it was all stitched together.

Step 7: Add the vellum envelopes to each piece with the opening facing towards you. Slip in the strip with the activity printed on it. Add the numbers and embellish as desired. I didn't embellish every piece, so to make the ones I did not embellish more interesting, I used foam adhesive to attach the numbers.

Step 8: Hang up your banner and enjoy doing the daily activity leading up to Christmas!

Such a fun idea that's sure to be a hit with the family!

More Hollyday projects will be revealed tomorrow!

Hollyday Week!

This week we'll be featuring American Crafts' newest Christmas line: Hollyday! Hollyday bids you season’s greetings from decades past. The line’s retro-themed designs and bright, traditional color pallet was inspired by advertising and packaging of the 50s. Turn on the fire and cozy up, it’s time to make cards, deck the halls and scrapbook your white Christmas! Mandy Koeppen made the cute creations featured today:

 

Dear Santa by Mandy Koeppen

Supplies: White Cardstock (71259) - AC Cardstock, Man With The Bag Paper (35494) - Hollyday, Winter Wonderland (42201) - Remarks Book, Rose Lips Paper(35491) - Hollyday, Man With All The Toys Paper (35500) - Hollyday, Tinsel Ribbon (89408) - Premium Ribbon, Santa Baby Paper (35482) - Hollyday, Printed Variety Decorative Tags (85555) - Bits, Bellsnickle Paper (35487) - Hollyday, Variety Buttons (85559) - Elements, Fellow Black (53172) - Thickers, Decorative Tabs (77261) - Bits, Dot Runner (61713) - This to That Adhesive

The Merriest Holidays Card by Mandy Koeppen

Supplies: Man With The Bag Paper (35494) - Hollyday, Sinter Klaas Paper (35479) - Hollyday, Rose Lips Paper (35491) - Hollyday, Vellum Envelopes (85556) - Bits, Holiday House Glitter Shapes (77253) - House, Winter Wonderland (42201) - Remarks Book, Tinsel  Ribbon (89408) - Premium Ribbon, Dot Runner (61713) - This to That Adhesive

 

For a chance to win the entire Hollyday line (not everything is pictured here), leave a comment on this post letting us know what you want for Christmas!

Leave your comment by Friday November 25th 2011 and the winner will be announced that morning.

Stay tuned for a step-by-step tutorial tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Layout and Card by Leslie Ashe

Congratulations to the randomly selected winner of the Mixtape, Kate Vickers:

 

 

Leslie Ashe created this Thanksgiving-themed layout and card to finish up the week:

Tennessee Turkey's by Leslie Ashe

Supplies: Leaf Cardstock (71052) – AC Cardstock, Carrot Cardstock (71032) – AC Cardstock, Hanging Out Paper (35560) – Amy Tangerine, Wanderlust Paper (35548) – Amy Tangerine, Orange You Glad Paper (35544) – Amy Tangerine, Pleasant Day Paper Tearaway Strip (35609) – Daydreams, Fall Fun Paper (35528) – Nightfall, Fall Foliage Paper (35526) – Nightfall, Fall Leaves Paper (35530) – Nightfall, Fall Colors Paper (35527) – Nightfall, Fox Park Forest Paper (35353) – Campy Trails, Truffle Hello (53247) – Thickers, Let’s Hang (78059) – Details, Orchard (78055) - Details, Scarecrow (42207) – Remarks, Good Times (42213) – Remarks Books, Field House Paper Leaves (77258) – House, Brown Sugar (62611) – Stamp Marker, Dot Glue Runner (61713) – This To That Adhesive, Dimensional Dots (61709) – This To That Adhesive

Hello & Thanks Card by Leslie Ashe

Supplies: Carrot Cardstock (71032) – AC Cardstock, Hanging Out Paper (35560) – Amy Tangerine, Fall Leaves Paper Tearaway Strip (35530) – Nightfall, Fall Colors Paper (35527) – Nightfall, Truffle Hello (53247) – Thickers, Good Times (42213) – Remarks Books, Autumn (42205) – Remarks Books, Amy Tangerine Decorative Washi Tape (61749) – Mixtape, Thanks (70072) – Flair, Orchard (78055) – Details, Garden Café Ribbon (58720) – Premium Ribbon, Dot Glue Runner (61713) – This To That Adhesive, Dimensional Dots (61709) – This To That Adhesive

Thanks for stopping by! An all new week of fun starts back up on Monday - have a lovely weekend!