Christmas elves

Included in my recent Dezign Team box from Ezee Pzee was a pair of absolutely adorable Christmas elves. I've been holding off on using them because, frankly, they are so darned cute I've been afraid of ruining them. Well, I finally got up the courage and used them for 2 different projects.

The first project is a scrapbook layout that I plan to use for the boys' picture with Santa this year.

I coloured the toy-toting chipboard elf using Copic markers and then added some white fun flock to the pom pom of the hat. At first, I had the toy bag letters done in silver glitter but this was one of those rare cases where glitter just didn't work. I ended up pulling out the letters and then adhering plain cream paper behind the openings. I think it ends up pulling the page together more since I've used the same cream paper for the matting of the photo (which is still to come). A scrap of ribbon to "tie" the bag shut and all that was left was the face. I glued on google eyes and then used a tiny button for the nose. I'm not sure about the nose yet - does it look festive? or does it look porcine (piglike)? What do you think ...

The background paper is extremely busy so I made the matte & frame for the photo extra large. I used a minimum of other embellishments, just a couple of cardstock stickers (the tree and the brown corner) and a coloured cord to hold sticker letters to form the banner heading.

Project #2 is a goody bag. I thought about decorating the bag itself with stamps but I think you'll agree that the present-holding elf is adorable enough to embellish this plain brown bag perfectly on his own.

Again, I started by colouring the chipboard elf with Copic markers. The chipboard shape was so detailed that it made the colouring quite straightforward - I didn't have to mess around with drawing in details or wondering where parts left off. This time I chose gold Stickles for the end of his hat (see, I can't stay away from glitter for too long). For the gift, I cut scrap paper to ft and then attached it to the chipboard. I coloured the top and right edge with a toner grey marker to give a 3-D feel. I cut off the little guy's hands (he was so brave - lol) and then re-attached them to the front of the paper-covered gift so that it looks like he is really holding it. Again, I added google eyes and a button nose.

I filled the bag with Hershey Kisses and then sealed it with a white ribbon that matches the ribbon on the gift box. At first I just used the ribbon but it was too plain so I added a couple of border-punched strips. I love this project except (there is always an "except" or "but' with me) that I wonder if the white ribbon is too thin for the bag top. I wonder if I should replace it with a thicker ribbon prior to giving this away. I'd love your votes!

Well, it's nearing the end of the first week of December and Christmas is rushing nearer. Yikes!

Challenges - Project #1:
Totally Gorjuss - include a tree (the sticker tree)
Pollycraft Monday - chipboard
Creative Card Crew - not a card (both projects apply)
Stamping Vacation - embellish it: use a corner (see the cardstock sticker I've used on project #1)
Raise the Bar - trees (again, see the sticker tree )

Challenges - Project #2
Totally Papercrafts - use your Christmas punches
Fussy & Fancy - anything but a card (both projects apply)

Lil Red Wagon - tag or bag

Creative Inspirations - a Christmas gift
Creative Card Crew - not a card