On Sunday we held the Hamilton Christmas Extravaganza. This annual event is run by 10 demonstrators who teach five gorgeous paper craft projects - cards, tags, boxes and gift ideas for Christmas. But the day includes so much more for the 70-80 crafters who attend: prize draws, displays and more crafting opportunities to create cards for charity.

All guests are seated at tables and the demonstrators come to you! That's right, you just sit back and enjoy your crafting day! For my each of my guests I made a gift box using the Under the Tree Specialty DSP and Gift Box Punch Board, and filled with Tim Tam Chocolicious Bites. Love that Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon...

Stamps: Letterpress Winter (photopolymer: 135143). Ink: Cherry Cobbler (126966). Card/Paper: Under the Tree Specialty DSP (135825), Whisper White (106549). Accessories: Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon (135839), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246). Tools: Gift Box Punch Board (135863), 1" Circle Punch (119868), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

Here's another gift box I created using the Under the Tree Specialty DSP. This one is larger and filled with Whittaker's Sante Chocolate and Moccona Mochaccino sachets. The outside was dressed with Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Cotton Ribbon and clay flowers painted with a mixture of Crystal Effects and Rich Razzleberry ink...

Ink: Rich Razzleberry Ink Refill (115664). Card/Paper: Under the Tree Specialty DSP (135825). Accessories: Simply Pressed Clay (130685), Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Cotton Ribbon (134564), Crystal Effects (101055). Tools: Gift Box Punch Board (135863), Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Moulds (131272), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

This gift box was given in one of the prize draws. Here's some of the other demonstrators' gifts for the prize draws...

And now to share with you what projects were taught at the Extravaganza...

This first project used the Gift Card Envelope Thinlits to create a gift tag holder. The tags were stamped with the Festival of Trees stamp set. Once you have used the tags, the box can be used to hold keepsakes or create a mini album. I love the non-traditional colours from the Color Me Autumn DSP that Alicia and Christine used.

These cute gift boxes were made using the Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits and taught by Andrea and Kirstie. Wouldn't you love to have your Christmas gift wrapped in one of these...

This swing card is easily die-cut using the Snowflake Card Thinlits and then stamped with the coordinating Letterpress Winter stamp set. The trick to this card is how you insert the card into the die to get an extended card base, then the end can fold over to create a pocket for a gift voucher. The soft colours that Jacque and Shona used were inspired by the All is Calm Specialty DSP. Love all that Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper!

Irene and Rayleen taught everyone how to stamp using the Baby Wipe technique, creating a lovely variation of purples on the Wondrous Wreath stamp. Combining these gorgeous colours with the Silver Metallic Encore ink looks amazing and a nice alternative to the traditional greens and reds.

This last project was taught by Bev and myself. We used the Get Your Santa On and Project Life Holiday Cheer stamp sets to create a hidden message card and decorated it using the Under the Tree Specialty DSP. This card opens like a gate fold card...

But if you know the trick, you can open this card again to view a hidden message...

We all had such a great day and are all looking forward to the next one - Hamilton Extravaganza in early 2015. If you want to know when registrations open for the next Extravaganza, then stay informed by clicking HERE to contact me to sign up for my monthly email update.