December Hostess Group

I really had a great time with my hostess group this month. We made some fun stuff! If you've never decorated a pop-top can and filled it, you're missing out! This is one of my favorite out-of-the-ordinary gifts to give. Take a safety can opener (you can find them at Wal*Mart for a few dollars. These are the can openers that take the whole lid off the can) and take off the bottom of the can. Fill with any goodies of your choice - trinkets or candies. We used Reeses p-nut butter cups. Stampin Up!'s Crystal Effects is my glue of choice to glue the lid back on the can, but you can also use E-6000 or any other strong adhesive that will hold the can together.

Then, I make the 'bottom' of the can the top of the can. Decorate - as I did here with a circle cut with a circle cutter and a snowflake. Wrap paper around the can and embellish as desired.

Here is a tutorial on the pop-top can, but again, I don't use the 'pop-top- as the top of the can, I use it as the bottom.










Our next project was an acetate box. I've never made these before, but they are so simple and cute, I think there will be many more in my future. I totally CASE'd (copy and share everything!) this design from the very talented Mellisa Sauls. Her blog is one of my fave's!

The box is really easy. Cut a piece of acetate (which you can get at office supply stores - I went to the printing service desk and ask for acetate like they used for catalog covers) 8 1/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches. Score at 2, 4, 6 and 8 inches. Use your bone folder to crease along the score marks. Put sticky strip on the 1/4 inch tab that's left and stick your box together.

For the top of the box I used a piece of card stock sized at 4 1/2 inches square. Score at 1 1/4 inches all the way around. Use the scallop edge punch all the way around. Make a snip on one of the corner score lines so you can fold it into the box shape for the lid. Add DSP and tags as desired.

For the bottom of the box, use a piece of card stock sized at 4 inches square. Score at 1 inch all the way around. Snip and assemble.


I really love this next card. Easy Peasy, but oh so elegant.

I can't show you the last project we made, yet, because I sent it to someone special - I'm a secret elf for someone in my group. And if I posted the picture, she would immediately know who I am. When it's all said and done, I'll point you to a blog where you can see what I have been up to this month.