This platter was made by Shelli Gardner, Co-Founder of Stampin' Up!

These are completed pages for the oldest grandgirl's album.

These are general family scrapbook pages that need to be put in a couple of scrapbook albums.

I found two vacation albums that I had never finished.  Oh oh.  I am 60% done with the middle grandgirl's scrapbook and about 90% done with the youngest grandgirl's scrapbook.  The cabin scrapbooks are up-to-date.  Using the 118108 My Digital Studio to make about 75 pages helped catch me up on my scrapbooking.  I'm quite pleased with the progress I've made so far.  I see the "light at the end of the tunnel".   Taking the time to scrapbook has been fun!

I would venture a guess that you haven't seen the best bargain in the Holiday Mini catalog.  It is on page 36, hiding under the glimmer brads and next to the rub-on's.  It is the Candy Cane Christmas Decor Elements for $14.95.  It comes in two colors:  122297 Old Olive and 120912  Real Red.  There are 10 images on the sheet, but the best news is you can cut apart some of the images to have even more. 

Whenever I start a project, I just jump in and start making it.  Then after I get further in the project and it's turning out, I think "oh, I should have taken a before picture".   Here is a picture of the Candy Cane Decor Elements minus half of the mittens and the three Christmas stockings because I already started these projects.

Compare my photo with the picture in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Now you know why you just passed by it without a second glance.

I went to my local dollar store and bought a white dinner plate and a white coffee cup.  I spent a whopping $2.00 + tax!

Is this just not stinkin' cute?  I believe this plate took about two minutes to decorate.  Now, who doesn't have time to "make" Christmas gifts this year?  Project #1 done!

 Project #2:  Take a plain, white boring cup.

 I cut off the images from the Candy Cane Christmas Decor Elements sheet that I wanted to use on the cup.

I rubbed the 114285 Applicator on the grid side of the Decor Element to release the images to the transfer sheet.

I peeled off the grid paper and rubbed the middle mitten in the center of the cup.

 I used the Applicator to rub the entire Decor Element on the cup.

 Then I carefully peeled off the transfer sheet.

 Viola!  It worked!

I took a 102757 Medium Flat Cello Bag, filled it with M&M's and tied some 119768 1 1/4" Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in a bow.  The cup took about five minutes to make.  Project #2 done!

Here are the two projects together.  Six minutes, start to finish.  I could give these as one gift or to two different people.  The plate would be lovely filled with homemade cookies, bars, sweet rolls, etc.  The cup could hold packages of chai tea, hot chocolate, coffee, homemade candy, etc.

Now, let's get back to the rest of our Decor Elements.  On a cup, you could use the other three mittens, use three of the ornaments cut and spaced apart, the birds and the presents.  On a dinner plate, you could use the Christmas tree, three of the ornaments, the birds, the presents and the candy canes.  It is really up to you how much you want on each item, but you can easily make 10-12 different gifts with the Candy Cane Christmas Decor Elements.  Now that is a fabulous value!  You can go to the top of my blog and click "shop" and order the supplies anytime 24/7 to make these projects.

 Remember that these items are hand washable only.

It is a pretty platter after it got cleaned up and sanitized.  I adore it now that I added the words to it.

I cut the leaves away from the words and cut them apart.  Why?  Because I didn't quite center the words.  Spreading the leaves to the right balanced it.  I have a metal stand that I display this on.  This is great for a Thanksgiving display or to keep up all year long!

There are 10 items on the Spooky Things Decor Elements sheet.  This display only is using three!  You can make unique Halloween decorations for your home or office with these.  The Spooky Things Decor Elements are a great value for only $14.95

 And, here is the after picture:

This just finishes off the entry with a warm welcome to anyone who stops over.  The Decor Elements are so easy to put up.  I put most of them up by myself.  I like it!  Do you?

 After putting the 119448 Happily Ever After Decor Elements on the wall, it is just what was needed to finish it off.

Seriously, the Decor Elements are inexpensive and so simple to apply.  They look so professional and elegant.  You would almost think I hired a professional painter!

 I'm doing the happy dance now!

This was so incredibly simple to do and was probably one of the fastest Decor Elements projects I've done so far.  I thought about using plate hangers and putting these on the wall, but that really wasn't what I had in mind.  I had bought a red narrow shelf from a thrift store a long time ago and it was stashed in the garage.  I was crossing my fingers and saying a little prayer that the shelf was long enough. 

 It was just the perfect length for the four plates!  I'm SO pleased with this project.  It will look even better when the wall gets painted a darker color!