Good morning SCT friends! We’re so happy you’ve joined us to kick off our annual “12 Days of Holiday Giving” SCT style! If you’ve joined us in previous years be prepared for our biggest year yet. If you’re new to this celebration we hope you’ll join us each of these 12 days to see the inspiring projects our team has created AND see all the amazing giveaways we have in each of these 12 days! Our partners have truly outdone themselves and are excited to share so many prizes with our readers. They know what we do…that you’re the best! We also asked our team to share their favourite holiday memory and hope you’ll share yours with us too.
Let’s get this party started and ring in the holiday season with our Editor-in-Chief Susan Opel!
“Greetings from Utah, dear readers! I hope you’re having an AMAZING December so far.
There’s something about the holidays that gets my creative juices flowing, and I’m sure you’ll agree that there are all sorts of Christmas-themed products that you just can’t HELP but use! But I’m a rebel from way back, and one of my favorite things is to take non-Christmas product to create Christmas-ey designs. Add in a non-traditional color scheme, and I’m super happy about that! Yeah, in my bedroom, I have pink and orange trees, so I’m all about the unexpected.
I recently attended an event with some of my favorite card makers, and I was delighted to sit at the same table as Yana Smakula. If you don’t follow her on Instagram, I suggest that you do! She creates the most elegant and lovely cards.
One of Yana’s signature designs is to stamp and heat emboss a background on dark cardstock and then color the design in with colored pencils. It looks amazing and really isn’t very hard! So inspired by her, I stamped the Kaleidoscope Leaves background from Simon Says Stamp on dark grey cardstock and heat embossed the design in white. In a few minutes I had colored in a few sections, and voilá! — instant impact.
After that, I added the sentiment treatment using the Stained Glass Greetings stamp set from Simon in coordinating colors for a lush jewel-toned design. It reminds me of the church windows on Christmas Eve!
I can’t wait to send this card to a friend to bless her Christmas. What a joy to share the love via something handmade!
And Christmas does bring me such joy. I have such happy memories from my childhood, and probably my favorite (spanning many years) was when I was in elementary school. My dad was the principal of my little Lutheran school in the country, and each Christmas Eve, we put on a Christmas pageant at church. The church (built in 1912) is one of those glorious old gothic buildings.
We’d enter the sanctuary singing as snow often fell outside the darkened stained glass windows. But inside we were warmed by the hiss of the radiators, the soft candlelight, and the arrival of baby Jesus. At the end of the pageant after singing Joy to the World, we’d all file up to the tree for a brown paper bag filled with peanuts, crackers jacks, and an orange. It was simple and like a storybook. And I’m so glad it’s a part of my story.
May the light and love of the season bring you warm memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime!” ~ Susan R. Opel
Thank you Susan for sharing such a beautiful non-traditional card and a sweet memory!
GIVEAWAY – Day 1!
Today we want to kick off our “12 Days of Holiday Giving” with our friends from Creative Memories and American Crafts! We’ve also added a little bonus at the end too!
“Happy Holidays Scrapbook & Cards Today readers! Creative Memories would love to share a Glacier prize package with you that includes:
- Glacier Cover
- Glacier Stickers
- Glacier Paper Pack
- Snowflake Trio Punch
Here’s a case of the “winter blues” that won’t have you wanting to head south until spring – Glacier winter-themed collection in a stunning range of frosty blue hues! Inspired by a winter wonderland filled with cold temps, warm hearts and snow, the Glacier collection features designs infused with elements such as snowflakes and falling snow, birch tree bark and frosty pine tree branches, as well as watercolour patterns and canvas textures that will be the perfect backdrop for photos of your enchanted winter moments! Happy Holidays!” ~ Creative Memories
“Hello SCT Friends! Cozy up with Sweater Weather by American Crafts! Grab your mug and crafting supplies because this comfy collection is bursting at the seams with traditional holiday reds and greens with fun pops of blue, pink, and gold. Capture snow days and winter memories with playful, hand drawn flowers, sweaters and mittens. Stay warm and document delightful wintery moments with Sweater Weather!
We’re so excited to give away a Sweater Weather prize pack to today’s winner AND AS A BONUS, we’ll send one to your crafty friend too! Good luck & Happy Holidays!” ~ American Crafts
We have one more giveaway too!
Today’s winner will also receive a print copy of our brand new winter issue that just released yesterday! Each page is filled with beautiful winter and holiday inspiration, brand new products and all the latest trends! If you have not seen this issue, you can view/download it here. AND as another bonus, we will send one to that crafty friend you’ve mentioned in your comment below! What a lovely friend you are :)
To enter each day’s giveaways:
For an opportunity to win, leave a comment below by midnight on December 22nd EST. All winners will be announced on December 23rd at noon EST. Good luck!Be sure to let us know who your crafty friend is that might light that American Crafts collection and a copy of our brand new winter issue. We would also love to hear about your favourite holiday memory too!
We would also ask that you take a moment to visit today’s sponsors on their Facebook pages to thank them for their generous prizes. Our SCT readers are always so wonderful at saying “thank you” and it’s because of that appreciation our partners love to share with you!
Creative Memories on Facebook
American Crafts on Facebook
Scrapbook & Cards Today on Facebook
Thank you again for joining us to kick off one of our favourite celebrations of the year! We hope you’ll share today’s post on your social media, in your Facebook group or by email with your friends. The more the merrier!
Wow! Way to get the party started! Great ideas for crafting, and I really like the look of that CM Glacier papers! I had just been admiring them in the ad in my brand new copy of SCT I picked up at my LSS yesterday.
A Merry Season of Giving to all!
What a great start!!! Some amazing prizes!!
The card is beautiful!! I am tagging my friend Wendi!!
One of my favorite holiday memories is heading out to the tree farm to cut down our own tree.
Love this time of the year of giving and you guys never disappoint! Always grateful to have such a supportive group in helping me unleash my creative side and I am hoping I can do the same for my friend Jane who is a beginner getting into the scrapbooking world as well.
Happy Holidays to all!
Beautiful card and church. This really gets us in the festive mood. Thank you. Great way to start things off. Merry Christmas..
This is a great start to start the 12 days of holiday giving! I love this card, this are two of my favorite colors, and it doesn’t look hard to make. It is very simple and beautiful!
Love that colour scheme by Creative Memories. Great for doing snow related layouts.
I love using non-traditional colours on Christmas cards. This one by Susan is gorgeous ! What a lovely give away, thank you for the chance to win. I would give the extra copy of the magazine to Gayle. She is an amazing card maker. She is always inspiring.
What a great prize and I love the colour !
What an awesome prize and more than amazing card! Love the colors!!!
I love these papers and what a beautiful card! Thanks for the chance to win.
We had our first measurable snow today so the timing of these prizes is perfect. My friend Kim Foster would love these as much as I do!
Love the glacier collection. It works so well
with the blue – makes me feel like I’m out in
the cold. Luckily I have a sweater from
American Crafts to keep me warm while
I’m reading my copy of my magazine.
Love your card. It is beautiful. Some
lucky recipient will really enjoy it.
thanks for sharing.
Lovely prizes today to start off the holiday celebration! I would like to tag my friend Debbie. She is working a lot of hours and I know she would be so delighted to win, along with me!
I always look forward to your giveaways. You have the most amazing sponsors and are always so generous. Merry Christmas to All!
Love that cover from Creative Memories. USUally I skip the wintry snowy collections as I live in Texas. But we GOT SNOW!!!!!! Two inches on Thursday night!!! It was amazing. Of course its all gone now LOL But I took a bazillion pictures and these two collections would be awesome to use. Thanks for the chance to win.
Wonderful prizes to kick off the 12 Days! Susan, thanks for the beautiful memory of Christmas. I love the trees and the Christmas card! One of my favorite memories of Christmas is baking cookies with my kids. All the sticky little fingers and the fun. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!
What an opportunity. Christmas in Australia is usually warm no snowflakes or sweaters for us BUT that does not mean we don’t use them on our layouts and cards. My sister and I have a tradition in that after Christmas lunch (or later in the day or on Boxing Day if busy) we scrap together. Thank you to your partners for their generosity meryy Christmas all.
Merry Christmas SCT! I loved Susan’s card and memory – singing carols at church on Christmas Eve is one of my cherished memories too.
Thank you to Creative Memories and American Crafts for today’s giveaway. Love that album cover!
With Susan Opel’s lovely memories plus her tree and the coolness of CM and the warmth of American Crafts and SCT how can one not be inspired. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
I’m loving the new Creative Memories stuff. The glacier collection is currently on my Christmas wish list! The American Crafts stuff is great too! If I won, I’d want Teresa Watkins Gately to get the bonus, she’s the best!
Thank you so very much for Hosting 12 Days of Christmas this year! Looking forward to the new products and hopefully winning them so I can scrap to my hearts delight
I am not usually someone who goes for pink but I have to say I love that pink Christmas tree. I am fairly new to card making so I just recently found your online magazine and must say it is great for ideas and inspiration. My cousin Terri is very crafty and would love to share in this, I am sure. Thank you and thank you to your partners for the giveaway.
Such a lovely card. I’m in a snowy winterwonderland right now and have some new photos to scrap. I usually have a nice scrappy evening with my friend Ulrika.
Beautiful crafting gifts for Day 1 of the SCT Giveaway! I would love to share them with my best friend and fellow crafter Melanie!
Lovely giveaways! I would share with my friend Frances. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Beautiful card! A snowflake giveaway is the perfect way to start this snowy day!
Love love love and tagging my best friend since we were kids Nancy
I am not usually one for pink but I just love that pink Christmas tree! I am fairly new to card making and have just recently found your online magazine. It has given me some great ideas and inspiration. My cousin Terri is quite crafty and I am sure she would love to have a copy of your magazine. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Love this collection. What a generous way from your sponsors to start your 12 days of giveaway. Your company is always so generous and inspirational. I love picking up your magazine as there are so many terrific ideas.
Today I am going downtown and giving scarves and toques to the homeless with my friends.
I am looking forward to your 12 days and reading your blog and Facebook. Merry Christmas to all Of your staff.
Love the colours blue and silver together in the creative memories collection.
would share with my daughter and cropping partner, Jo-Ann
Wow, this is an awesome prize. I am planning a card making evening with some new scrappy friends….one who is just starting this scrapbooking process…..oh my she doesn’t know what she is getting into. ;). Sorry Lacey for planting this seed of creativity.
I love these amazing giveaways! My friend Terry and I could make use of them when she gets back from Yuma for the winter!! Love Creative Memories and American Crafts
Great way to start holidays
What a lovely card! Can’t wait to see all the ideas using the products. Merry Christmas &/or Happy Holidays to all!
I have been waiting for your 12 Days of Christmas! The party has started how exciting! Love Creative Memories, American Crafts and of course our one and only Scrapbook and Cards Today! My favorite Christmas memory is Christmas tree hunting, hot chocolate and frosty faces with when my children were little.
Started making cards and tags and would love this.
Wow! What a generous start to the 12 Days of Christmas. The Glacier collection is so wonderful for our upcoming scrapping in Jan/Feb.
What a great celebratory prize pack! Love reading about what bringns people joy at Christmas and seeing the beautiful projects people create. My favourite memories always come from family and friends gathering over the holidays, sharing laughter, love and a few calories. I would share my American Cratf win with my scrapping buddy Amber Little
What an awesome prize package…love the blue and know my friend Sandy would love it too.
I enjoyed reading Susan’s memory. My church did a similar event at Christmas time. Love these wonderful prize packages. I would love to share this with my sister, Bonnie. She loves to scrapbook and has a couple of grandchildren coming who she will want to remember every detail.
That is an awesome prize pack to get the party started. ?. What a generous offer. My friend Vickey Peterson loves CM as much as I do. This would be a wonderful prize for anyone. Thanks for the chance to win. Good luck everyone.
I could definitely add this to my stash! Thanks to SCT and all the sponsors for a chance to win this holiday season!
Fabulous Prizes!! And great to be able to include Rebecca Fuller in the possibility of winning too! The crafting love is genetic in this family. Thank you for your generosity!
I’m so into non-traditional colours…my tree and decor is teal and red. I’m also lock-in’ the glacier line from Creative Memories and the American Crafts papers for all the upcoming winter memories.
My favourite memories of Christmas involve trekking through the tree farm while my now grown children found the perfect tree.
Great kick off for the 12 days of Christmas!
What a beautiful card! I, too, love and admire Yana and often try to copy her techniques. My very favorite memory of Christmas is when my dad played Santa Claus for our neighborhood – I was so proud that MY dad was Santa! This is a wonderful prize package, and I know my daughter Jennifer would enjoy it as much as I would!
Thanks for sharing the love of the industry with all of us.
What great prizes. The card is a beauty and I follow Yana’s Blog. Her cards are a sight to behold.
Thank you Creative Memories, American Crafts and SCT for an amazing prize.
Wow, these look great! It really inspires for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
My favorite memory is having the big family get togethers with all the family and our usual potluck assortment of delicious food, staying up late to watch a movie before opening presents at midnight on Christmas Even.
My friend Nicole would really enjoy this craftyness as well.
What beautiful paper. Thank you for this opportunity. Great way to kick off the Christmas giveaway.
Beautiful card. Great giveaway. CM products are great. Have been scrapping for about 24 years and have using CM products the whole time. Love the classes and kits from SCT.