This month's inspiration projects are all about the holiday season. We sent a goodie package brimming with holiday scrapbook goodies from the Three Bugs in a Rug product line to Creative Team Member Elena Bedner, who created three inspirational projects perfect for meaningful holiday projects with a fun, whimsical flair! You’ll get inspiration on how to use your scrapbook supplies to liven up pre-made gift bags and boxes that adds that special touch to your gift packaging. After all, custom gift bags make gift-giving extra special! Plus learn how to make your own custom ribbon photo corners, adding that special touch to your holiday cards. And you’ll love how Elena let the stylish designed patterned paper be the focus of her page layout, adding just a few creative touches to complete a delightful holiday layout.

• Pre-made Gift Bag or Box
• Three Bugs in a Rug: My Wish List (BR001)
• American Crafts: Good Things Winter Ribbon (AC008)
• Prism: Herbal Garden Cardstock (PM016)
• Glue Dots: Pop Dots (JV007)
• Heidi Swapp: Clear Jewels (HS021)

• Fiber Scraps: EZ Tintz Walnut Ink (FS006)

1. Trim the medium Herbal Garden cardstock to approximately 7 1/2" x 10 1/4" (Project dimensions will vary depending on your bag/box size).
2. Trim the Snowball patterned paper to 7 3/4"x8" and adhere to center of cardstock. Ink edges as desired. Adhere to front of bag/box. (Be sure to cut any slits as needed. For this bag, Elena used a craft knife to make the cut, following the existing slit near the top of the gift box. Covering the bag or box is usually easier to do before assembling it.)
3. Follow the same process for the back side of the bag/box and cover other sides as needed. (Elena didn't cover the sides of this bag, however she did cover the top flap with the coordinating cardstock.) Cut hole with craft knife and ink edges as desired.
4. Cut a strip of polka dots from the Snowball patterned paper. Ink as desired and adhere to the gift box top flap approximately 1” from the bottom.
5. Cut two snowflake circles from Snowball patterned paper to create circle tags. Use one patterned side up, and one white side up. Adhere a clear jewel to center of snowflake. Cut two 2” segments of ribbon. Adhere the two segments into a V shape using glue dots or staples and adhere to back of patterned paper circle. Trim ends of ribbon. Adhere both circles to left side of flap over polka dot strip. Write "To" and "From" on the white circle tag.
6. Cut out large white circles from the Dots patterned paper and ink as desired. Adhere a clear jewel to center. Cut another two 2” segments of ribbon. Adhere ribbon into a V shape as above, once again using glue dots or staples to secure in place. Attach circle tag to front of bag (toward the right side) with pop-up glue dots.

• Three Bugs in a Rug: My Wish List (BR001)
• Three Bugs in a Rug: Holiday Rub-ons (BR005)
• Prism: White/Gray/Black Cardstock (PM021)
• Prism: Herbal Garden Cardstock (PM016)
• Glue Dots: Pop Dots (JV007)
• Glue Dots: Memory Glue Dots (JV008)
• Heidi Swapp: Clear Jewels (HS021)

• Fiber Scraps: EZ Tintz Walnut Ink (FS006)

1. Cut white cardstock approximately 6 1/2"x9". Fold and score to make a card 6 1/2"x4 1/2" in size (or use a pre-made card).
2. Cut a rectangle of Blizzard patterned paper measuring 4"x6". (Notice the placement of the large snowflake on the left side of the card. Elena cut this from the top left corner of the patterned paper sheet, about 6 inches down the left side and 4 inches across the top of the page.)
3. On the leftover piece of Blizzard patterned paper, there are three sizes of snowflakes circled in polka dots. Cut one of each size. (These are going to go over the corresponding circles on your 4”x6” piece, so you may be able to use partial pieces.)
4. Match up pieces to their counterparts on your 4”x6” piece of paper. DO NOT ADHERE YET. Trim edges as necessary. Don’t worry if the edges don't match up exactly, just cover them up as best you can.
5. If center of snowflakes show on your cutouts, attach a clear jewel to center.
6. Cut a rectangle from the light Herbal Garden cardstock that is 2 3/4"x1 3/4". Adhere the "Merry Christmas" rub-on in center of rectangle. Ink edges as desired.
7. Cut four segments of ribbon measuring 1” each. Attach a glue dot to center of ribbon and attach to corner of "Merry Christmas" rectangle at an angle. Attach two more glue dots to each end of ribbon and wrap towards back of rectangle. You just made your own custom ribbon photo corner! Repeat the process for other corners.
8. Attach snowflake cutouts on top of their counterparts on the 4”x6” piece using pop-up dots.
9. Adhere "Merry Christmas" rectangle in the space between snowflake circles. Adhere 4”x6” piece onto card. Ink edges asdesired.

• Three Bugs in a Rug: My Wish List (BR001)
• Three Bugs in a Rug: Green Alphabet Stickers (BR012)
• Three Bugs in a Rug: Holiday Rub-ons (BR005)
• Prism: Herbal Garden Cardstock (PM016)

• Fiber Scraps: EZ Tintz Walnut Ink (FS006)
• Prima Flowers: Red Poinsettia Flowers
• Prima Flowers: Green Holly Leaves

1. The photo used in this sample layout is 5x7. Trim a 5 1/2"x7 1/2" mat for photo from dark Herbal Garden cardstock. Adhere the 5x7 photo to mat. Trim a larger mat measuring 7"x9" out of light Herbal Garden cardstock. Mount matted photo to the second mat. Ink edges if desired.
2. Place cardstock matte and photo on Flurry patterned paper towards upper left corner. DO NOT ADHERE YET. This will give you a visual on where you will need to cut the circles to overlay on your photo. (You can make reference marks with a pencil if you wish.)
3. Carefully cut slits around the edges of the white circles on the patterned paper with a craft knife (see sample layout for placement).
4. Place photo in slits and adhere to page.
5. Cut white cardstock approximately 3 x 3/4"x 2 1/4". Ink “Joy” alphabet stickers and adhere to center of white rectangle. Ink edges of rectangle as desired.
6. Adhere "The Magic of Christmas" rub-on to a small piece of light Herbal Garden cardstock. Trim a rectangle around the rub-on and ink edges of rectangle as desired.
7. Adhere "Joy" rectangle to bottom right of layout. Adhere rub-on on rectangle below that at an angle.
8. Adhere poinsettias and leaves as desired. Notice how the placement of the flowers on the sample layout creates a visual triangle – creating a visual pleasing design!