Creating Me

‘Tis The Season – July 2025 Christmas Card

Posted on July 16, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

I can’t believe I am sharing July’s Christmas card already! This year is going by so fast – just like we say every year! 😁

Disclosure: Some of the links on my site are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This card was inspired by Sketch Challenge 59 over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmaker. My cute little penguin is from the stamp set called A Few of My Faves by Unity Stamp Company. I stamped him with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on white card stock and colored him with Copic markers. I die cut around him using these Scallops & Circles Dies and layered it to red card stock cut with the same die set.

To make the card, I embossed strips of blue and yellow card stock with 2 different embossing folders and attached them to a white card. Both of my embossing folders have been in my collection forever – use your favorites in your stash. Or this one and this one would be fun on this card.

I stamped the sentiment with red ink on white card stock, die cut around it with these Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Dies, and layered it to red card stock cut with the same die set. Both the penguin and the sentiment are attached to the card with foam tape.

This is such a bright, fun way to send Christmas greetings!🎄

Anita

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Stamping | Tagged Cards, Christmas, Stamping | 5 Comments

Christmas Gift Tags

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Christmas gift tags are a great thing to have on hand when it’s time to wrap all the presents. Make them now and you’ll be ready! 🎄🎁

I used Little Love Deer from Unity Stamp Company to make my tags. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on white card stock and colored it with Copic markers. To add the little white accents, I used a white gel pen. I stamped the sentiment with red ink below the deer image. The sentiment is from a discontinued set by Stampin’ Up. Use your favorite small Christmas sentiment – or none at all. 🙂

I die cut around the image with a stitched tag die (this is another similar tag die set) and layered it to a tag cut from red card stock using the same set. I added a tiny red gem to cover up the hole on the white tag. (Just a tip, I always add a little drop of glue under the gem even if it is self-adhesive to make sure it will stay on my project.) To finish the tag, I tied green/white bakers twine to the top.

Simply stamp or write “to” and “from” on the back of your tags for gift giving.

You can use any of your favorite Christmas images and sentiments to make your tags. You will be so glad if you make them now. If you’re an early Christmas gift shopper, you can even get your gifts wrapped, tagged, and hidden in the closet way before the season hits. 😉 🎄

Anita

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Crochet Snowy Wheat Ornament

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Have you seen these beautiful Crochet Snowy Wheat Ornaments by Briana K Designs? They are super easy and fun to make! Her pattern includes instructions for 5 different ornament sizes using clear plastic fillable ornaments.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my site are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You can find the pattern here on the Briana K Designs website along with options to purchase her ad free pattern if you’d like.

I stitched up my ornaments using Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek Yarn in White and a G/4mm crochet hook. I made the largest size ornament using the 3.94 inch clear plastic ornaments. I got these at Hobby Lobby and they come in a package of 8.

To finish off the ornaments, I made a hanger using natural twine and white wood beads. I threaded the twine through the hanger on the ornament and tied a knot close to the hanger. I threaded on 3 white beads, tying a knot close to each one. Then I left enough twine for a hanging loop and tied I knot at the end, cutting off any excess twine.

I love how oversized these ornaments turn out by using the large plastic ornaments! They will surely make a statement on your Christmas tree and you can make them in any color. 🎄They will also make wonderful gifts for friends or neighbors. 🎁

Anita

Posted in Christmas, Crochet, Decor, Gifts | Tagged Christmas, Crochet, Decor, Gifts | 5 Comments

Birthday Circles – Handmade Card

Posted on July 9, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Today’s card is fun and colorful! It’s also simple and quick to make. 🙂

I took 4 bright colors of card stock and embossed them with an embossing folder. The one I used is discontinued, but I think this one would be fun. I punched 1-inch, 1 1/8-inch, and 1 1/2-inch circles from the embossed card stock. I attached them randomly to white card stock that measured 5.25 by 4 inches. I overlapped a few of the circles over the edge of the card stock and trimmed off the excess. I layered the piece to a slightly larger piece of yellow card stock and attached it to a white card.

I punched a few 1/4-inch circles from card stock and attached them randomly to the card. The sentiment is stamped with turquoise ink, punched with a 1-inch circle punch, and layered to a 1 1/8-inch embossed circle. The piece is attached to the card with foam tape.

This is such a great card for just about anyone – even for those sometimes difficult masculine cards. 😉 You can make it in any color combo and with any of your favorite embossing folders.

Anita

Posted in Cards, Stamping | Tagged Cards, Stamping | 2 Comments

Small Wood Pallet Christmas Tree

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

It’s time for some Christmas in July fun! 🎄I have some cute Christmas projects planned for this month including decor, crocheting, cards, tags, and some other things I haven’t thought of yet! 😉

Today I have a Small Wood Pallet Christmas tree to share with you. I love to decorate my mantel with small Christmas trees for the season and it will be fun to add this one. You can see my mantel in this post. It includes my Farmhouse Wood Christmas Tree made with the same type of pallet tree.

All of my supplies came from Hobby Lobby. I noticed they are starting to put out their Christmas stock at my store and these trees are available again this year. You’ll need the tree, 2 coordinating Christmas print scrapbook papers, and white acrylic paint. It’s not in the photo, but I also used a 3 inch wood star for the top of my tree. (Similar wood pallet Christmas trees are also available here at Amazon.)

I painted the tree and the star with 2 coats of white paint, letting it dry between coats. The white was a bit stark next to my scrapbook papers, so I lightly dry brushed some dark brown paint onto the base and back of the tree to soften it. You may be able to skip this step depending on your choice of papers.

I traced the 4 sections of the tree onto the back of the scrapbook papers, alternating between the patterns. To make it a little easier, I let the bottom of the tree hang off of the edge of my counter so the tree laid flat on the paper. I traced the outside edges of each section and used a ruler to draw the lines across. Then I cut out each section. I also traced the star on the back of the paper and cut it out.

Using Mod Podge and a foam brush, I applied a thin coat to each section of the tree, one at a time, and smoothed on the scrapbook paper. Then I applied a thin coat of Mod Podge over the top. I did the same thing with the star and attached it to the top using E6000 clear adhesive.

This tree was fun to make! You can use any scrapbook paper to match your Christmas decor. The thing that takes the longest is waiting for the paint to dry! 😄

I would love to see how you decorate your Small Wood Pallet Christmas Tree. 🎄

Anita

Posted in Christmas, Decor | Tagged Christmas, Decor | Leave a comment

Happy 4th of July USA!

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Happy Independence Day to all of my friends in the USA! 🇺🇸 Hoping your day is filled with family, friends, food, and fireworks! ♥️♥️🍔🥧🍦🧨🧨🧨

You can find details for my patriotic tiered tray decor in these posts…Chunky Polka Dot Wood Stars, Americana Wood Blocks, Mini Patriotic Rolling Pins, and Mini Pallet Flag

Have fun and be safe! ♥️🤍💙

Anita

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Chillin’ On Your Birthday – Handmade Card

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Here’s a fun card for all those Summer birthdays! 🍋 The lemonade jar stamp is from the set called Chillin’ from Unity Stamp Company. The sentiment is from a discontinued set called Summertime in a Jar also from Unity. Use your favorite sentiment in your collection. 🙂

I stamped the lemonade jar on white card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored it with Copic Markers.

Using the Wonky Stitch Rectangle STAX Dies from MFT Stamps, I die cut around the image. I used the same die set to cut rectangles from blue and yellow patterned paper. I attached them to a white card with the stamped image on top. I stamped the sentiment with light blue ink and die cut around it with these Scalloped & Stitched Sentiment Nesting Dies. (Both sets of dies are out of stock as of writing this post, but hopefully they will come back in soon!) I attached the sentiment piece to the card using foam tape.

I think this stamp would also be so cute colored up to look like iced tea. Lemonade or iced tea – which is your favorite Summertime cold drink? 🍋

Anita

Posted in Cards, Stamping | Tagged Cards, Stamping | 2 Comments

Easy Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Are you bringing dessert to the 4th of July picnic this weekend? Looking for a quick but fun and festive recipe? These Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars might be just what you are looking for! 🇺🇸

I found the recipe here at Upstate Ramblings. The dough mixes up in just a few minutes and then you bake the whole batch of cookies at once in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan – I love that! After the cookies cool completely, you will frost them with yummy cream cheese icing and add plenty of fun patriotic sprinkles. Cut them into squares and enjoy!

Here’s the dough ready to go into the oven… It’s a thick sticky dough so I lightly sprayed my clean hands with cooking spray to spread it out and pat it in the pan that I lined with parchment paper.

And fresh out of the oven… It smells so yummy!

After they are cooled, frosted, and sprinkled…

The cream cheese in the dough and the icing adds a whole new level of flavor to these tasty sugar cookie bars. I stored my cookie bars in the refrigerator just to be safe due to the cream cheese icing. Simply take them out an hour or so before you want to serve them – or you can serve them cold right from the fridge, too!

These tasty Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars are sure to be a hit – especially with the kids! 🙂 🇺🇸

Anita

Posted in Recipes, Summer | Tagged Recipe, Summer | Leave a comment

Bella Coco’s Crochet Stitch Library Book

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Have you seen this beautiful new crochet book from Bella Coco?!?! It’s called Bella Coco’s Crochet Stitch Library and it’s amazing! 🧶

The book begins with the tools and equipment for crocheting and continues on to the basics of crocheting. Next comes 70 pages with different stitch tutorials from beginner to intermediate to more advanced stitches. Then 44 pages of squares and shapes followed by a few pages of edgings and borders. She also includes 3 projects to practice using a few of the stitches you’ve learned.

The book is written in US terms with UK terms in parentheses in each pattern. There are beautiful photos showcasing each stitch, square, shape, and edging. I think this is such a great book to have in your craft room. Whether you are just beginning your crochet journey or having been crocheting for decades, you’ll love having Bella Coco’s Crochet Stitch Library at your fingertips for quick reference when starting a new project. 🧶

Anita

Posted in Crochet | Tagged Crochet | Leave a comment

Simply Thinking of You – Handmade Card

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Anita

Hi friends,

Need a quick and easy card? This card comes together in just minutes and it’s so simple to make!

My flower silhouette stamp is from a discontinued set called Insightful Meadows from Unity Stamp Company. This set called Serene Silhouettes has several stamps that would work beautifully on a card like this. My sentiment stamp is one I’ve had in my collection forever.

I stamped the flower image on white card stock with lavender ink. I used an edger punch similar to this to punch along one edge of the piece. I stamped the sentiment with the same ink and punched around it with a scalloped oval punch similar to this.

I attached lavender card stock to a white card and attached the stamped flower piece to the card. The sentiment is attached to the card with foam tape.

This card can be used for any occasion. You can change the sentiment or even leave it off completely. And you can make it in any color.😊

Anita