FRIDAY

Here is another Christmas project for you to try.  It is a hot chocolate holder and I will be giving these to my 26 sorority sisters at our Christmas dinner.

These are both the same except for the diamond in the center of the snowflake.  I had these extra large jewels left from several years ago.  In order to get the jewel to be red, you just color it with our new Stampin' Blends.  They are so awesome.  They are alcohol based markers so coloring pearls or jewels is a breeze.

First of all, thanks to Dawn Olchefske for the pattern.

• Start with a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 sheet of cardstock, scored in half at 4 1/4.
• The next step is to make a score line at the corner.  Using your retired diagonal plate for your Simply Scored is the way to go, but I couldn't find mine anywhere, so here is the tip for scoring without it.  Lay the left corner of your c.s. piece at the 6" mark at the top of your Simply Scored and move your bottom right corner to the 8" line.  Then make your score line at the corner by coming down from the 10" mark at the top.
• Next you need to lay your c.s. into your Winter Wonder (snowflake) Embossing Folder (HC) by lining up your c.s. with the bottom and side edge of your folder on the side of the c.s. that is scored at the corner.
• Fold your scored corner to the INSIDE of the c.s so that your embossed snowflake is now on the front.

• Put a strip of Tear and Tape along the bottom edge of the inside of your holder and close your holder by creasing on your center score.  You now have a sealed bottom so your cocoa packet does not fall out.  
• I also added a snowflake from the Seasonal Layers thinlits as the center of the embossed snowflake.
• Punch two holes along the open edge so that you can thread your ribbon through in the next step. I used my Crop-o-dile.
• The final step is to place your packet in your holder and put your ribbon through the holes to add your candy cane.  I have also seen a treat tube placed in the ribbon filled with mini marshmallows instead of a candy cane.  Here is a picture of how to thread your ribbon through.  I used the ribbon from the MINI Tinsel Trim Pack (red and silver) for my tie.  It worked GREAT because it pulled tightly and held to the candy cane without making a double knot.  My piece was 9" long.