Christmas Treat and News!

I can't believe it's already time to start thinking about the holidays, but Christmas will be here before we know it!  This is another project using the Paisley Prints stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  It's a very simple project, and it perfectly holds a mini candy bar. To see another example (Easter treat) click HERE. 

I ran Crumb Cake card stock through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die. I scored 1/2" from the middle point of the top note--on both sides. That gives me one inch total for the flat part on the bottom. Although depending on what treat or small toy you add, you can easily change those measurements. 

I stamped two trees with Old Olive ink, and just cut off the bottom layer of the tree on one of them.  The sentiment is from the set Teeny Tiny Wishes.   

Stamps:  Paisley Prints, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Old Olive, Early Espresso

Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Accessories:  Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Top Note Die, Big Shot, Crop-A-Dile

And for the news. . . . Well, today I'm headed off to Fort Worth for the Stampin' Up Regionals that happen tomorrow.  I always love attending SU events, and I'm sure this will be no exception.  Although I am quite nervous this time. . . . for the first time I will be ON stage, not just watching comfortably from my seat.  

Yep, not too long ago Mark Jessen from the home office called to let me know that based on some sample I had submitted, I was picked to be one of the Workshop Wow presenters at the Saturday session of Regionals!  I am of course super excited, but that doesn't mean I won't be a little nervous with the cameras and every one's attention on me for my presentation (not something I usually aspire to--just ask my family!).  

Anyway, wish me luck and I'll be back next week to show you what fun technique I'm going to share on stage! 

Easter Treat

Can you believe Easter is just over two weeks away? Now I don't usually make too many Easter projects, but this cute little Chocolate Bunny (from the Occasions Mini Catalog) was too cute too pass up!

Although, around any holiday I do like to have 'a little something' on hand. Whether it be something for children's classmates, teacher gifts, hostess gifts, friends, co-workers, etc there's always someone that wouldn't mind a little 'I thought of you today' gift. :-)

Creative details: I ran Bashful Blue card stock through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die. I scored 1/2" from the middle of the top note--on both sides. That gives me one inch total for the flat part on the bottom. Although depending on what treat or small toy you add, you can easily change those measurements.

The Certainly Celery card stock was cut with the Big Shot and the Little Leaves Sizzlits Die. I embossed the Chocolate Bunny on Close to Cocoa paper using Chocolate Chip craft ink and Clear Embossing Powder. The Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon is also found in the Occasions Mini Catalog.



Stamps: Chocolate Bunny, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip Craft
Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Accessories: Small Oval Punch, Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Little Leaves Sizzlets Die, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Clear EP, Crop-A-Dile

Lots of Baby

Yes, it really is me again! Thanks for sticking with me even though it's been awhile. It's been a very crazy few months here at our house. The 'highlights' include computer problems, H1N1 for the whole family, 2 rooms in our house flooding, and two visits to the ER--one for my husband's ankle and most recently for me. . . . My visit came after I was mopping my kitchen floor and woke up to find myself flat on my back with my almost 2 year old daughter running over to try to put my glasses on. After a scan it was confirmed that I 'only' had a concussion. So if you've ever wondered if housework is dangerous. . . . Now you know! ;-) Despite everything that has happened, I am happy to say that everyone (and our house) is now feeling much better!

On to the crafting. . . . Last week I was able to fill a special order for a lady who wanted to make a baby shower she was throwing for her friend really special. Here are pictures of most of the items that I made for her. You can see the master list below of all the supplies I used.

My inspiration came from the Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper (now discontinued). The gender of the baby is unknown, and I like this paper because I thought it was gender-neutral and had a delicate feel that was perfect for a baby.

This project series is also a good example of why I love Stampin Up. . . It is so easy to make coordinated projects! I started by choosing the Designer Series paper, which gave me my color pallet. Next I added the matching inks and accessories. Then it was easy to create coordinated projects that give a cohesive feeling to the party decorations.

The picture at the very top shows the nugget boxes that were the favors for each guest to take home. I used the Stampin' Up! Matchbox Big Shot die and the stamp set Matchbox Messages to make these.

This is a tin that I decorated to be part of the main table. The star is a piece of chipboard covered with Certainly Celery card stock. You can purchase these TINS from the Clearance Rack over at Stampin Up for only 99 cents each!

Inside the tin, there is an accordion 'book' that has different pockets. The accordion sits on the main table with the tags. Each of the guests can write some baby advice, a note to the mom, or anything they like. They put the tag in one of the pockets, and then after the party the accordion book with all the personalized tags goes back into the tin and makes a nice gift for the mother.

This Top Note die box was a gift for the grandmother. How thoughtful of the hostess to include a gift for her! The box holds 8 Hershey Nuggets individually wrapped with coordinating papers. The 'charm' is just two stars punched from Brushed Silver card stock and then embossed with Silver Stampin' Emboss powder three times. After embossing, I glued the stars back to back and used my paper piercing tool to poke a hole and thread the linen thread through.

Here is the frame that was also part of the main table. I left the right and left sides open for the mother to fill. She could include the shower invitation, a baby announcement, and/or baby pictures. The words are actually custom Decor Elements that are on top of the glass. I used part of a Decor Elements Sheet, spray painted it shiny silver (despite what it looks like in the picture!), and then ran it through the Big Shot using the Billboard decorative strip.

And here is a close-up. The white star is a rub-on. This could also be adapted to make a cute card layout too!

And last, here are the Food Name Cards. The flowers were made using the Trio Flower punch.

Since the length of this post is already so long, I didn't include all the creative details. If you do have questions about any of these projects, please contact me.

Stamps: Matchbox Messages

Ink: Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink markers

Paper: Delicate Dots DSP, So Saffron Patterns DSP, Brushed Silver, Window Sheets Medium, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Accessories: Whisper White 5/8" satin ribbon, linen thread, Bashful Blue 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Certainly Celery 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Very Vanilla 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Certainly Celery twill ribbon, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, 1/4" Circle punch, 1" circle punch, Trio Flower punch, Star punch, Tag Corner punch, Corner Rounder punch, Sizzix Big Shot, Matchbox die, Top Note die, Billboard die, Decor Elements Sheets, paper piercing tool, dimensionals

Top Note Bag Tutorial

As promised--a tutorial for the Top Note Bag! You can see the original bag that won Stampin Up's July Art Contest (Flutter by Butterfly) HERE. I had quite a bit of fun making another bag. :-)

Begin by cutting 8 Top Note Dies. (I used Kraft paper here.) These will become the front and back panels of the bag. Next you will need to cut 4 partial Top Note Dies that become the sides of the bag. To do this, Take a sticky note and place it directly on the Die to mark your place. I placed mine approximately 1 1/2" away from the side tip/edge of the Top Note. The exact measurement isn't important as much as the consistency. If you would like a wider bag, just place the sticky note further away from the edge.

Line up your folded card stock with the edge of the sticky note. I used a piece of (approx) 3 1/2" by 4" Kraft paper (scored down the middle). Run the Top Note Die through the Big Shot to make the first side piece. Repeat 3 more times making sure to the keep the sticky note in the same place so that all of your side pieces are the same width.

So after you've cut 8 full Top Notes and 4 partial Top Notes, stamp or embellish as desired. Here I ran the Top Notes through the Big Shot again with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate, sponged with Soft Suede Ink, and used my Soft Suede marker around the edges to finish the stitching on the Top Note.

Next score along the edges of the Top Notes. Again the exact measurement is not as important as the consistency of the scoring measurements. I lined up the 'valley' of the Top Notes with the black border of my scorer and then scored.

Score along all four sides of 4 of the full Top Note dies, and 2 of the partial Top Note Dies. On the other 4 full Top Note dies, score along both short edges and only 1 of the long edges. On the other two partial Top Note dies, score along both of the long sides and only 1 of the short sides.

Cut out the little 'square' sections wherever there is an intersection of scored lines. (4 per bottom Top Note and 2 per top Top Note.)

Adhere the Top Notes together as shown in the pictures below using a strong adhesive. I used Tombow Mono Multi (remember a little goes a long way).

Now you have the main part of the bag together! To make the bottom of the bag, place it on a piece of card stock (here I used Soft Suede) and trace along the bottom. You'll have to push down lightly with one hand and trace with the other. Another note, I didn't force the bag to a perfectly rectangular shape, I let it bow out a bit on either side to give it a more natural shape.

Cut out your pattern and adhere to the bottom of the bag. Trim if necessary.

Depending on what you want to use the bag for, you may want to add supports to the bottom and/or sides of the bag. If the bag is just to look pretty :-) you may not need any supports. Here I used 4--2" by 1" pieces of paper scored down the middle for supports. After you've added as many supports as desired, prepare your handles. Here I used approximately 11" of Twill Tape (3/4") with 1/2" Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon adhered (with Sticky Strip) on top.

Adhere your handles. If you are going to use brads, grommets, etc add those now. After you adhere the handles, start adding the inside of the bag.

Each bag may be a little different (depending on how you scored), but for the insides of this bag I used two 8" by 5 3/4" pieces of Soft Suede card stock and two pieces of 2 1/4" by 5 3/4" card stock. To make the bottom piece, I turned the bag upside down and traced the pattern. I cut that out and then trimmed down as necessary until it fit in the bottom of the bag.

Now embellish as desired! Here I used the Circle Scallop Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Antique Brass Build-A-Brad, and Antique Brass brads.

Finished!

Stamps: Trendy Trees (for dots on Build-A-Brad)

Ink: Soft Suede ink and marker

Paper: Kraft, Soft Suede, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Scallop Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Antique Brass Build-A-Brad, Antique Brass brads, sponge, dimensionals

Happy News!

Don't you just love happy news? A little while back I found out that I won Stampin Up's July Art Contest in the Flutter by Butterfly category! I was so excited. :-) Not only did I get to choose any 3 stamp sets from the catalog, my project is published in Stampin Success--the monthly magazine for demonstrators. Since the magazine went online today, I thought I would share my project with you!

I actually made this project quite some time ago--shortly after I made this butterfly bag. As you can see the bag grew a little bit. :-) I wanted to create a bag that was made entirely of Top Note Die cuts, and this is what I came up with. All of the brown you see on the bag (handles, inside, butterfly) all use the faux suede technique. There is also a pocket on the inside.

Note: I'm creating a tutorial for the bag that will be posted soon.

Ink: Chocolate Chip marker (for stitching detail)

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Bella Birds DP, White Vellum paper

Accessories: Chocolate Chip corduroy buttons, Pretties Kit, dimensionals, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies die, Top Note die, thread

Butterfly Bag

This is a project that we made last month at Technique Club. I've seen several people use the Top Note die to decorate little bags, and I just had to try it myself! The first bag I saw in person was a leadership swap I received from Amy Caraluzzi. I didn't see a picture of her bag on her blog, (it used Bella Rose Designer paper and the stamp set Love You Much) but go anyway to check out her cute blog Partners in Crimp.

So here is my version of these cute little bags. . . . I ran the So Saffron paper through the Big Shot with the Top Note die and then sponged around the edges. I used a marker to ink just the swirls (from the stamp set Yummy) and then stamped, cleaned my stamp, inked the words and then stamped again. The reason that I did this was that I wanted to change the orientation of the stamp. The stamp has a horizontal layout, and I wanted a vertical layout.

I added a little linen thread to the button and then adhered with a glue dot. I was then ready to adhere the So Saffron Top Notes to the bag. Next I used a 1/8" circle punch to punch holes and pull the ribbon through to make the handles.

To make the butterflies, I ran the paper through my Big Shot using the new Stampin Up Beautiful Butterflies die. The largest butterfly used the Bella Birds Designer Paper, and the two smaller butterflies are Delicate Dots Designer paper and vellum paper.

After stacking the butterflies together, I put a glue dot on the back and started wrapping the linen thread. (Note: I colored the linen thread with the Chocolate Chip marker before wrapping it.) I wrapped it a couple times and then used another glue dot to keep the linen thread in place. I used dimensionals to adhere the butterfly to the bag.

Now you have a cute little bag to fill with chocolates or other little goodies!

Stamps: Yummy

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip marker

Paper: So Saffron, vellum paper, Bella Birds DP, Delicate Dots DP

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Beautiful Butterflies die, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, button from Latte Designer Button collection, 1/8" circle punch, linen thread, dimensionals, glue dots, sponge, small paper bag (from Target)

Blog Candy!

It's time for some blog candy! Can you believe that I've already passed 12,000 hits? It's about time that I say thank you to everyone who has visited my blog. :-) I have appreciated so much the support that I have received from everyone who has visited, left comments, and sent kind emails. I have enjoyed my blog and look forward to continuing!

So here it is, just leave a comment on this post (one entry per person) and you will be entered in a drawing to receive everything in the picture above--the stamp set Starstruck (now retired), a roll of Alpine Originals ribbon, and the sampler bag. I will randomly choose the winner on March 16th--so make sure you enter before then!

And, there is a second way you can win! I have another roll of ribbon, another sampler bag, and a jar of white Chunky Glitter to give away as well. To win this set of goodies, I need your help. I'm going to be moving soon, and I definitely need to give some sort of thank you to my UPS man. Over the past 3 and a half years he has carried a lot of packages up to our 3rd floor apartment! And, he is always pleasant--never complains about the 20lb+ packages from Stampin Up. *blush*

Anyway, I'm at a loss as to how to thank him. . . . Something stamped would be nice, but do guys appreciate that sort of thing? Anyway, I'm not sure so that's why I'm asking your help! In your comment, leave your best idea for me! I'll choose my favorite idea on March 16th, and the person with that idea will receive the second set of goodies as a thank you. Thanks in advance for you help!

I thought I'd show a close up of the sampler bag. This is another one of those quick little projects. I used the Top Note die and ran it through the Big Shot. I filled a small cello bag with the coordinating accessories, added the folded Top Note to the top, and tied the ribbon around. The tag uses one of the new SINGLE stamps called Elegant Thank You and then was punched out with the Square Scallop punch. If you haven't noticed it yet, Stampin Up now has a small selection of single stamps! They are found on page 208 of the catalog and are perfect if you need a particular saying.

Stamps: Elegant Thank You

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip Marker

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Top Note die, Big Shot, small cellophane bag, Alpine Orininals ribbon, linen thread, square scallop punch, 1/16" circle punch

Lots of Holiday

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season!! I still can't believe it is already 2009! I always look forward to a new year and the excitement it brings. I haven't done any posts in awhile, but I thought today I'd at least move all of these projects (projects we made at the 1st Annual Los Angeles Holiday Stampers' Meet-Up) from the event page to my main blog page. So if you haven't already seen these, here they are. :-)

Tree Threesome

Stamps: Baby Jesus is Born (for the sentiment)

Ink: Kiwi Kiss

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Whisper White Kiwi Kiss Patterns Designer Series Paper

Accessories: lots of Dimensionals, (dimensionals are double-stacked between the Kraft layer and the Kiwi Kiss base), Rope Twine (from the Holiday Mini Catalog)

Snow

Stamps: Snow Jumbo Wheel

Ink: Pacific Point

Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White

Accessories: Pacific Point 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Simple Nativity

Stamps: Season of Simple Grace (from the Holiday Mini Catalog)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue, Summer Sun

Paper: Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Alpine Ribbon Originals (from the Holiday Mini Catalog), dimensionals, cutter kit, sponge

Note: the ribbon slides off to open the card.

Hanukkah Sayings

Stamps: Shalom Sayings

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Night of Navy, Brushed Silver, Whisper White

Accessories: Silver Stampin Emboss Powder, Heat tool, Silver Brads, 1/16" circle hand punch, dimensionals

Nugget Boxes


Stamps: Snow Swirled, Best Yet

Ink: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Brushed Silver, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Ski Slope Designer Paper

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Hershey's Nuggets candy

Note: I found the idea for these boxes on the Stampin Up Demonstrator Website. The idea was part of a Halloween Class idea submitted by Hillary Fetzner.

Gift Card Holders

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Punches Three

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Versamark

Paper: Kraft and Riding Hood Red Gift Notes, Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Bella Rose Designer Paper

Accessories: Clips Assortment, Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Cutter Kit, Sponge, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Square Punch, dimensionals

Bold Birthday

Can you tell my Big Shot has been getting a workout lately? :-) This is another project using the Top Note Die and the Big Shot. We made this at a workshop I did last Friday. We ran the So Saffron paper through the Big Shot and then scored and folded in half.

A really cool thing with the Top Note Die. . . . For this project we folded the short way and used the small cello bags. But, if you fold the other way (long way) you can use the medium cello bags. Don't you just love how everything works together so well. ;-)

So after we folded the Top Note and filled our bags with candy, we stapled it shut and tied around the Pacific Point grosgrain ribbon. Next we used the set Big Bold Birthday to stamp the bottom part of the cupcake. (This is one of the sets that is 20% off. . . see the flyer HERE.) The scallop circle punch was used to make the top part of the cupcake. The small flower was punched with the Boho Blossoms punch.

Stamps: Big Bold Birthday
Ink: Pacific Point
Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, small cellophane bag, stapler, Tempting Turquoise brad, Pacific Point 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/16" circle hand punch, dimensionals

Happy Halloween Frankie!

I just love all of the Frankenstein cards that everyone has been making! I saw and adorable one by Karen over at Karen's Korner, and then saw some more over at Splitcoaststampers that used the Top Note Die and the Big Shot. So, I of course had to make one too. :-)

I took a couple pictures of the Big Shot as I was making the card. The first one shows how you layer the Cutting Pad, then the Die, and then the paper. On top you put another Cutting Pad and then you are ready to roll it through the Big Shot.

For this project, I wanted the Frankie face (Kiwi Kiss paper) to be the card base as well. So, I cut and scored my card stock and put the folded edge just below the top part of the die so that the edge wouldn't cut. (Can you see that in the picture? If not, click on the picture to see a larger version.) The last picture shows the base after it goes through the Big Shot and before I added the face.

The face was mostly just made with punches. The mouth is free handed, and the highlight on the eyes were added with a white gel pen. Feeling ready for Halloween now? :-)

Stamps: All Holidays (to stamp 'Happy Halloween' inside)

Ink: Kiwi Kiss (to sponge around edges)

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: 1" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Round Tab Punch, Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, sponge, White Gel Pen, Basic Black marker