Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Posies To Brighten Your Day

I've missed being able to post but there's been quite a lot going on! 

Hope this bunch of posies will bring a smile to you today! 

Last night we had our club meeting at our house featuring products from the Berry Blossom Suite. Each person in the group made an individual flower using the Mixed Bunch set and enjoyed the mini Peanut Butter cups perched in the flower centers. 

I enjoyed creating this little bouquet for my hostess who is the sweetest {hugs}. You'll never guess what I used for the base - my favorite BOX #2. I punched holes in the box top with the Crop A Dile and stuck the cookie sticks in, but the flowers were a little tipsy that way. So I cut another box but an inch shorter, lined up the holes and stuck it inside to stabilize the "stems". My hostess liked it and I hope you'll give it a try. Really was fun to make. 

I haven't forgotten about my tutorial for last week's Box #2
project. I've made the VIDEO and now must figure out how to inbed it with the Mac. If anyone wants to share a 'how to' I'd love it!

I'll end with this photo of our beagle, Josie, all wrapped up in her comfy crate taking a nap. Like her, I'm kind of tired but content as we traveled 700 or more car miles over the weekend and then I had lots to do to be ready for club last night. Yesterday was the push, today is the catch up---- I'm glad to catch up with you! 

I'd love to hear from you today and appreciate everyone who stops by. 

Nifty Notepad Gift

Happy Monday!

I am so excited about what I have to share with you today, because it's the kind of gift I know is really practical and very easy for you to reproduce. This was one of my club projects last month and the ladies loved this clear mount stamp case holding a notepad inside.

We used patterns from the Santa's Helper Designer Series Paper and the variety of designs was fabulous! Inside the case is a notepad where you can keep all those holiday lists you need and a handy pocket for receipts is made by adhering an open-ended envelope.

This is such a great way to use your extra sheets of double-sided patterned paper! Cut a piece at 10-1/2" x 7" and slip it inside the plastic cover. It stays put, I found no need to adhere it. For the notepads you can buy inexpensive packs of Jr. Legal pads at an office supply store. You will need to have these cut at the store to 6-7/8" otherwise they're about an inch too long to fit in the case.

You'll need a 2 x 5" strip of paper to wrap around the top of the notepad, and another piece to line the envelope. "My receipts" was stamped using the Empire Alphabet Lower stamps and Early Espresso ink.

The cases (#119105) come in a pack of four for $5.95. Do you have children on your gift list? Imagine their delight to receive a personalized notepad with their name spelled out on the front. Adding a pocket for stamps, or a loop for a pen instead of the envelope are other ideas and I'm sure you have more. Hope this inspires you today.

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Charming Gift Set

I decided the necklace and pretty packaging that I made (scroll down for yesterday's post) deserved a few note cards to make it a personalized gift set.

The challenge at Our Creative Corner to make an ATC to add to a project sounded intriguing, especially since the colors required fit right in with the colors I had chosen. We were to use kraft, white, black and one other color. I added a hint of Marina Mist.

 Here's the card that I made attaching the Crumb Cake panel which is the ATC.

 The hostess set Silhouette Sentiments supplied the image and the words are from the You're a Gem set. In keeping with the stlye of the necklace, I stamped the medallion circles from the Charming set, and adorned the sentiment with Basic Rhinestones.

Adding a box, it's now a boxed gift set! The box is lined with Night and Day DSP and it holds the necklace plus two 4-1/4" square notecards and envies.

  

Here's a picture of the front of the box.

I really enjoyed making this project and I relish the thought of giving it away soon. Hope you've enjoyed seeing it, thanks for peeking in today!

Let me know what you think!

     

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!

Charming Necklace

Thanks to everyone who wrote comments when I was MIA last week, you have no idea how it makes me smile to know that you missed me! I'm back to normal and getting crafty again was so much fun! I can't wait to share today's project.

When my club hostess requested that we stamp on dominoes and make a necklace, I was a bit hesitant, thinking everyone in the group must have done or at least seen that technique (a few years ago, LOL!) But I LOVE challenges and did some research. We made these classy necklaces last week.

 
This was simple to make! If you'd like to give it a try, begin by soaking your dominoes in bleach for 2 hours to remove the glaze. You'll have a matte, porous surface to stamp on using Black StazOn ink. I stamped the text and floral images from the Charming set, using the heat gun to set the ink. I adhered the bead on top with Crystal Effects.

I wondered how my ladies would safely get these home. That's when I got my idea to dress it up with a pretty package.

They say, "Packaging is everything!" How do you like it?

I made the necklace holder using the Two Tags Die and the Big Shot, cutting out two tags. After stamping the images, I added a foam square to hold the necklace and wrapped the cord around to the back, arranging the pieces in a Y at the top and securing with a small strip of tape. Attaching the front to the back was easy using foam dots, and they allow enough space for the cord to be folded up and hidden inside.

Here's a close up.

 

I have to tell you I had so much fun making this project that I went even further and added more items to make a special gift set which you'll see on my blog tomorrow or Wednesday, so be sure to check back!

For those who've asked about my health, I am feeling well but still need to follow up with a cardiologist soon, and I think staying in on a cold rainy day like we're having today will be just what the doctor ordered. :) That means you can expect to see more posts this week. I hope that if you've enjoyed my project you'll take the time to let me know, or ask any questions that you have. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks so much for visiting!

   

all supplies by Stampin' Up!

Candy Cane Cutie!

I love the Candy Cane Christmas paper and matching fabric.

Here's a gift set I made for my hostesses this month. The idea was presented by Pam Morgan at Convention and I just had to make a set to see for myself how cute it is!

I took a $1 mug and added a couple mittens of the Candy Cane Christmas Decor Elements available in the Holiday Mini. Do you know, with this set of Decor Elements, you can make about 10 gifts for $14.95?

The coaster made from Candy Cane Christmas fabric and the matching tag are a great example of the fun projects you can make with our coordinating supplies.

Have a great stamping day! Your friendly comments have been a heartwarming treat for me. Thanks!

 

 

 

 

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Flashback Friday - Dare to Dream and How long has it been...?

Hi friends!

Just a very quick post as my computer is having real issues and it's a gorgeous day here to play or be outside. I'm going to enjoy a great weekend spending time with my husband and family. Can't wait!

Welcome to Friday Flashback! where I share a stamp set or accessory that deserves to be in the spotlight even though it often gets overlooked or has retired. I began this feature to encourage myself and all of us to dust off those horded supplies and give them a new look!

Today I'm pulling out my Dare to Dream set. It's always a classic and hardly needs updating. Here's the card.

 
Looks sweet, don't you think? The soft colors (Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake) and patterns remend me of a cozy quilt.

Now, here's a question for you-

How long has it been since you used your Stamps, Paper, and Ink to dress up an ordinary white gift bag? It has been TOO long for me, and I used to do it all the time.

So, this week, I broke into my stash of Afternoon Tea DP and wrapped up something pretty for a friend. I bought a bunch of white bags, so I may use up lots of that pretty paper.

See, I did keep my promise for a quick post! See you Monday!

RemARKable LOVE Blog Tour - Post 2

Happy NEW Year 2010! I love pink satin and lace! This is the first project that I made a couple of weeks ago for the blog tour. I just LOVE the satin ribbons available in the Occasions mini (they come in a BUNCH of colors too!) and decided to spruce up a gift set of heart-shaped soap, body cream and a pouch of bath beads using the Vintage Vogue stamp set and my favorite accessories.

  

  I love the vintage colors of pretty in pink stamped on very vanilla card stock, which was textured with the Finial Press Embossing folder.

I added a touch more elegance with white ink, card stock, and pearls from the Pretties Kit. The lace trim around the heart is a strip of card stock punched with the new Scallop Border Trim Punch and gathered around the edges. The border image on the pink strip is embossed in white. I think the possibilities with this set are endless!

I hope you've enjoyed this touch of elegance from the Occasions Mini and have fun on the rest of the tour.

Tomorrow's project pulls out all the stops on new products, so be sure to check back!

 

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Vintage Vogue
Paper: very vanilla, whisper white, pretty in pink
and Ink: craft white, pretty in pink

Accessories: Pretties Kit, Pink Satin Ribbon, Scallop Border Trim Punch, Stampin Up! Lots of Tags DIe and Big Shot, Finial Press embossing folder, white embossing powder

Need a quick gift idea?

At this time of year, we all need an idea for an easy way to dress up a small gift!  Here's a little gift that I gave one of my workshop hostesses this month. If you have the Big Shot, this gift is super easy and super quick.

The real red card stock is cut here with the Big Shot and the Box #2 die, and layered with the beautiful flocked Christmas Cocoa Specialty Paper. I trimmed the box top and enclosed two votive candles ~ they are a perfect fit!  The 5 Petal Punch was used to make the poinsettias that have a jumbo brad dipped in glitter for the centers. The Top Note die was trimmed to fit in the back of the box and it's all wrapped up with Mistletoe ribbon.

Do I sound - well, let's say - not like my usual bright and bubbly self?  You're right, I am tired! I am excited to share this project with you, just keeping it short and to the point. As I am sure is true for all of us - life has been incredibly busy lately, so I will be posting a bit less in the days to come. You know what that means! I'll come back and stamp up a storm when life gets back to normal (or  what-ev-uh) again.

I love the holidays and every year I tell myself this is the last year that I will push myself to the max trying to get everything done! If I get that time management thing figured out, I'll bottle it to sell to the world  ***wink***

Very Vintage and Vintage Vogue Sneak Peek

Vintage Vogue is the set I have LONG waited for! It's a delightfully detailed set with a great combination of images and a coordinating wheel called Very Vintage. I just KNEW I'd love exploring the possibilities of this new set from the Occasions mini (available for purchase on January 5) for a long time to come! Of course I want to show you what I made!

Here's my vintage tag to dress up some special gift this Christmas, and later to be used as an ornament for the tree.

I've just got to say - isn't this set GORGEOUS???

• On Very Vanilla card stock, I used the Very Vintage wheel and Soft Suede ink, and cut a 3.5" circle. 
• The flower border is done with black ink. I added a tiny border of Brushed Gold card stock, which I also used for the tag. The Brushed Gold and Brushed Silver card stock from Stampin' Up! has a beautiful metallic sheen that is just perfect for your holiday projects.
• The flower was stamped in Rose Red ink, cut out, popped up and embellished with a pearl from the Pretties Kit. If you wonder why I call the Pretties Kit 'my bottomless pit,' you need to check out this category in my sidebar :D
• The sentiment is from the set Teeny Tiny Wishes, and is embossed with Gold Glory embossing powder. I love this tone on tone effect.

Hope you love today's project! I am grateful that you chose to spend a bit of time with me today, thank you~

Supplies~  all supplies by Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Very Vintage, Very Vogue, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: very vanilla, soft suede, brushed gold
Ink: rose red, soft suede

Accessories: Pretties kit, vanilla taffeta ribbon

Don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and need supplies? Order from me online anytime HERE

Have questions about a crafting need, or considering becoming a demonstrator? E-mail me HERE with any questions you have!

Note Card Box and Ribbon Rosette tutorials

Want to know what I did today? I invited a delightful thirteen year old friend to help me make those table decorations I showed you a couple days ago.

Know what I didn't do?  I didn't post my tutorial that I promised you - yet. But here it is! 

First I want to show you how I altered the Stampin' Up! Box #2 die to hold my note cards that I posted HERE.

I ran the Box #2 die through the Big Shot machine to cut. I cut off the two small tabs on the box top, leaving the larger one.Then, I added a strip of designer paper and adhered it, being sure to crease the folds first. At this point, my box looks like this:

 

To support the 3.5 x 5" note cards, I needed to add two layers of card stock. Cut one
3 - 3/4" x 5 - 1/4"  panel to place inside the box. This is the piece that makes your box taller! Cut another panel at 3-3/4" x 2- 1/4". This piece goes behind the box at the top, with the bottom edge tucked under the ribbon for the purpose of covering the score line. These two pieces are even at the top and make a sandwich with the box tab in the center.

Adhere the panels with sticky strip and decorate your box as desired.

To make a ribbon rosette is really fun and our Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon makes it easy! Cut a small length of ribbon - about 3 to 4". All you need to do is wiggle a bit of the white stitching loose and gently pull this thread until your ribbon gathers.

Think of it as if you are sliding the ribbon along the thread, like gently moving hangers along a closet rod. As you go, form a circle. When I liked the size, I knotted the loose threads together, tucked the raw edge of fabric under and secured it with a few stitches done with a needle and thread.

I made two of these circles and attached them with just a couple of hand stitches. You could use Tacky Glue if you don't sew. Then add a large brad or button in the middle to anchor, and you've made a cute embellishment of your own!

Here's the finished project, try your hand at making your own.

 

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial. It's my way of saying how much I appreciate you!

I want to wish my U.S. readers a very wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I'll be taking a couple days off from posting to celebrate with my family. I'll be back soon, see you then!