Hi, everyone! My name is Stacy Cohen, and I’m thrilled to be the guest blogger today!!
Hanukkah starts at sundown tonight, and I’m finally finished with my shopping. My family follows the tradition of opening a present every night during the eight nights of Hanukkah, so I had numerous presents to buy and wrap. My daughters are very easy to shop for. My husband, not so much. Luckily, we started a fun tradition a few years ago: rather than buy each other big gifts, my husband and I buy eight small Hanukkah gifts for each other—gifts that have to come from the 99 Cents Store!
The past 99-Cents-Store gifts have run the gamut from practical and personal to downright hilarious. I’ve received items like scrapbooking embellishments, a picture frame, and a tube of toothpaste (not my regular brand, unfortunately). I’ve given my husband gifts such as tools, a flashlight, and socks. (He loves those socks!) One thing is for sure: every year our 99-Cents-Store gift exchange ends up creating lots of laughter in our house. I can’t wait to see what my husband has picked for me this year!
In honor of the holiday, I created a Hanukkah layout to share with you today:
"Handmade Menorahs" by Stacy Cohen. Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper; Patterned paper and sequined gems: Prima; Letter stickers: American Crafts; Trim: Junkitz; Canvas paper: Ranger Industries; Embroidery thread: DMC; Paint: Shimmering Products.
Pleated Paper How-To
I love to add pleated paper ruffles to my layouts. Here’s a little step by step for you to try at home:
1. Cut strips of paper about 1″ wide.
2. Use scallop scissors to create a decorative border on one long edge of each strip. Alternatively, you can freehand cut scallops or curves—they don’t need to be perfect since you’ll be pleating the paper.
3. Starting at one end of each strip, use the edge of a ruler to make a fold in the paper. The size of your fold will depend on how big you want your ruffles to be. I usually make my front folds about 0.75″ wide.
4. After the first fold, make a small fold (about 0.25″ wide) going in the opposite direction. Note: I always eyeball the width of the folds, but you can mark your fold lines with a pencil and a ruler if you want to be more precise.
5. Repeat the folds back and forth as the pictures above shows. It doesn’t matter where on the scallop pattern you make your folds, because once the strip is fully pleated, the scallops will blend together nicely.
6. Trim the cardstock base of your layout to remove just less than the width of your paper strips from each side; here, about 0.75″. Once you have your paper strips pleated from end to end, use a strong adhesive to adhere them to the edges of the backside of your cardstock. In my experience, Fabritac, Zip Dry Paper Glue and a Scotch ATG gun all work well.
7. As a final step, you can add some sparkly paint to your ruffle. I used Blingz paints from Shimmerz.
Voilà—you have a pretty pleated ruffle!
Thank you, Creating Keepsakes, for having me as your guest blogger today! It’s been an honor! Happy Holidays, everyone!
Hanukkah Product Giveaway
Shalom Scrapper has generously donated three prize packages for the CK blog readers. Just leave a comment on this post by December 13 sharing your favorite Hanukkah tradition. Three lucky winners will be randomly selected.
Free Font Friday
P.S. As part of Free Font Friday, you can download the CK Hanukkah font for free here.
Stacy, Your blog article was JUST the thing I needed today. I’d done a round pleated LO for the first page of my daughter’s album about her life, it came out stuning! I wanted an equally stunning LO for the first page of my son’s album, but was stuck until now! I don’t know why, but I never thought to make the pleats in a square instead of round! You’ve inspired me tremendously! May the Lord bless you and yours greatly this season!
Stacy, Your blog article was JUST the thing I needed today. I’d done a round pleated LO for the first page of my daughter’s album about her life, it came out stuning! I wanted an equally stunning LO for the first page of my son’s album, but was stuck until now! I don’t know why, but I never thought to make the pleats in a square instead of round! You’ve inspired me tremendously! May the Lord bless you and yours greatly this season!
Totally loving this tutorial! Just last night I was messing around trying to do this and couldn’t get it just right, thanks for this! =)
Beautiful layout as well…very classy!
Totally loving this tutorial! Just last night I was messing around trying to do this and couldn’t get it just right, thanks for this! =)
Beautiful layout as well…very classy!
Stacy, you’re awesome! Thanks for the Chanukah LO idea. Our Chanukah tradition is that each of us lights our own menorah…so there will be four menorahs with glowing candles on the sideboard. The kids go to great lengths to “reserve” the one they want to light. This morning I found a sign (written in 4th grade cursive) that said “PIPER’S MENORAH! DO NOT TOUCH!” leaning on the menorah that *I* had planned on lighting!! The things we do for our children! Chag Sameach!
Stacy, you’re awesome! Thanks for the Chanukah LO idea. Our Chanukah tradition is that each of us lights our own menorah…so there will be four menorahs with glowing candles on the sideboard. The kids go to great lengths to “reserve” the one they want to light. This morning I found a sign (written in 4th grade cursive) that said “PIPER’S MENORAH! DO NOT TOUCH!” leaning on the menorah that *I* had planned on lighting!! The things we do for our children! Chag Sameach!
What a brilliant idea. I can’t wait to give it a try. Something really different.
Thank you very much and Happy Hanukkah to Stacey Cohen.
Incidentally, my Mom’s maiden name was Cohen (Maisie Cohen).
What a brilliant idea. I can’t wait to give it a try. Something really different.
Thank you very much and Happy Hanukkah to Stacey Cohen.
Incidentally, my Mom’s maiden name was Cohen (Maisie Cohen).
Beautiful layout!
My favorite Chanuka tradition is singing after lighting the candles!
Beautiful layout!
My favorite Chanuka tradition is singing after lighting the candles!
I love that gorgeous layout, stacy! and your tradition with your hubby brought a huge smile to my face – i may have to steal that one, lol!
I love that gorgeous layout, stacy! and your tradition with your hubby brought a huge smile to my face – i may have to steal that one, lol!
Stacy, your layout is Stunning, and I *love* your tutorial!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful talent! ((hugs))
Stacy, your layout is Stunning, and I *love* your tutorial!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful talent! ((hugs))
Stacy, this is a fabulous layout! I definitely want to try this pleated paper technique!
One of our Hanukkah traditions is listening to the Hanukkah music a week or so before Hanukkah starts. Our kids love to sing and dance around while listening and it really gets them excited for the holiday!
Stacy, this is a fabulous layout! I definitely want to try this pleated paper technique!
One of our Hanukkah traditions is listening to the Hanukkah music a week or so before Hanukkah starts. Our kids love to sing and dance around while listening and it really gets them excited for the holiday!
Gorgeous, Stacy!!! I love how you use a ruler to make your pleats so crisp. I’m going to try that! Your style is beautiful and I just love everything you create!
Gorgeous, Stacy!!! I love how you use a ruler to make your pleats so crisp. I’m going to try that! Your style is beautiful and I just love everything you create!
Stacy this is such a beautiful LO! I love how you do those pleats and I’m so psyched that I now know how!
Thanks!
Stacy this is such a beautiful LO! I love how you do those pleats and I’m so psyched that I now know how!
Thanks!
Happy Chanukah to you and your family (no matter how it’s spelled)! As for traditions – latkes and applesauce, mmm. We all get together, eat and open gifts. This year, we have a new granddaughter. She has made my parents great-grandparents.
Enjoy and keep those dreidels spinning!
Happy Chanukah to you and your family (no matter how it’s spelled)! As for traditions – latkes and applesauce, mmm. We all get together, eat and open gifts. This year, we have a new granddaughter. She has made my parents great-grandparents.
Enjoy and keep those dreidels spinning!
Our tradition is that Hanukkah is celebrated at our house. All of our family comes over and celebrates. It’s extra special now that my daughter is 2 1/2, she has both sides of her family together.
Our tradition is that Hanukkah is celebrated at our house. All of our family comes over and celebrates. It’s extra special now that my daughter is 2 1/2, she has both sides of her family together.
Hey Stacy! So great to see a Chanukah page – Our tradition is that I make latkes that end up burned every year! And my loving family eats them anyway and tells me how wonderful they are! They know they’d better be nice or they won’t get their gifts…Oh Vey! Good thing I married a Goy.
Cyn
Hey Stacy! So great to see a Chanukah page – Our tradition is that I make latkes that end up burned every year! And my loving family eats them anyway and tells me how wonderful they are! They know they’d better be nice or they won’t get their gifts…Oh Vey! Good thing I married a Goy.
Cyn
What a gorgeous page Stacy!!! I just LOVE all of your work!!! Thanks for the amazing tutorial – can’t wait to try some of those pleated paper ruffles!!!
What a gorgeous page Stacy!!! I just LOVE all of your work!!! Thanks for the amazing tutorial – can’t wait to try some of those pleated paper ruffles!!!
I love just sitting on the couch with the lights off and watching the candles.
I love just sitting on the couch with the lights off and watching the candles.
Gorgeous page, and love your ruffles, Stacy! Thanks for the tutorial!
Gorgeous page, and love your ruffles, Stacy! Thanks for the tutorial!
Hmmm…pleats…I’ll have to try that one.
Hmmm…pleats…I’ll have to try that one.
Stacy, thanks so much for this gorgeous Hanukkah layout and I love the paper pleating technique too. Thanks also for sharing your traditions with us. My favorite thing about Hanukkah is that we have my grandmother’s menorah, which came from Israel the year I was born. She is no longer with us, but the treasured memories of her are cherished even more when we light the menorah. Happy Hanukkah to you and yours!
Stacy, thanks so much for this gorgeous Hanukkah layout and I love the paper pleating technique too. Thanks also for sharing your traditions with us. My favorite thing about Hanukkah is that we have my grandmother’s menorah, which came from Israel the year I was born. She is no longer with us, but the treasured memories of her are cherished even more when we light the menorah. Happy Hanukkah to you and yours!
Stacy, what a beautiful layout and I love the technique. I can’t wait to try it. Have a wonderful Hanukkah, it truly is a wonderful holiday may God Bless you and yours always.
Stacy, what a beautiful layout and I love the technique. I can’t wait to try it. Have a wonderful Hanukkah, it truly is a wonderful holiday may God Bless you and yours always.
Your LO is beautiful Stacy! I’ve yet to try the ruffles so guess it’s about time…especially after your excellent tutorial. Thanks so much! May you and yours have a wonderful holiday!
Your LO is beautiful Stacy! I’ve yet to try the ruffles so guess it’s about time…especially after your excellent tutorial. Thanks so much! May you and yours have a wonderful holiday!
What a beautiful Hanukkah layout! I love how you used non-traditional colors!
My favorite Hanukkah tradition, from when I was little through now, is to sing ALL of the verses of Maoz Tzur on one of the nights. And to eat a ridiculous amount of latkes!
Stacy,
This is a beautiful layout. Your talent never ceases to amaze me!!
Our favorite Chanukah tradition is that my daughter and I bake sugar cookies, cut out with Chanukah shapes (menorah, dreidel, etc.) and covered with blue sprinkles, then freeze eight batches. We defrost one batch each night to munch while we light candles, say blessings and open gifts. Stacy, your layout is breathtakingly beautiful and what a fun technique too! Thanks so much.
An absolutely gorgeous layout Stacy. I love the pleats, the colors, the technique and most of all the Shimmerz paints!
Your work is stunning—-everytime! Big HUGS to you this holiday season!
love pleating paper, thanks for reminding me how easy it is to do.
Stacy,
This project is INCREDIBLE! I am in LOVE with your paper pleating. What a FABULOUS idea!! I love how the Shimmerz stands out. I just love this period….
Leslie Ashe
Stacy,
This project is INCREDIBLE! I am in LOVE with your paper pleating. What a FABULOUS idea!! I love how the Shimmerz stands out. I just love this period….
Leslie Ashe
Thanks for this great tutorial! Our favorite Hanukkah tradition is chocolate coins – the kids get a little bag with a small gift each night, and I swear they look forward more to that chocolate than the gifts!
Congratulations on being the guest blogger, Stacy! Your layout is beautiful as is all of your work!
Happy hannukah!!
I love the pleat idea – lovely.