Packages Galore

I've got more Christmas ideas! I got this idea from Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, UT this summer. I finally get to share with you here and in my classes! I'll be having a class on how to make all these projects the 2nd week of December. Click onto my schedules for more details! Enjoy!

Holiday Place Settings

I wanted to share this video link on how to make your own holiday place settings. Our very own, Shelli Gardner, founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! shares her ideas. 

Christmas Ornaments

As the countdown to Christmas continues, I wanted to show you a simple way to make your own ornaments. You'll need a glass ornament, decorative paper, stamp, and staz-on ink pad. Pull out the top of the glass ornament to expose the hole. Cut strips of decorative paper and curl them (almost like quilling). Push these curled pieces through the hole. Fill until you're satisfied. Then close the ornament by replacing the top. Finally, take a stamp of your choice and stamp the exterior. Quick, simple, and so easy!  Here's a sample of what I did.

Briefcase Card

I was commissioned to make a birthday card for a man. The customer wanted something similar to the purse card. The first thing that came to my mind was a briefcase. I love the simplicity of it but its fun and classy! Hopefully, the recipient will love it too!

All supplies from Stampin' Up! Shop 24/7 here.

Christmas Gift Cards

Sometimes its easier to give gift cards but that doesn't mean the packaging needs to be ordinary. Here are some samples from my gift cards, tags, and more class.  

Supplies Needed to complete project: (First Card)

1. Ski Slope Designer Series Paper 

2. Whisper White Cardstock

3. Real Red Cardstock

4. Real Red Classic Ink Pad

5. Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pad

6. 1" Double Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon

7. Stampin' Up Dimensionals

8. Snow Swirled Stamp Set

9. Hostess Set (Three Punches)*

*Contact me to find out how to receive this stamp set free! Click here.

Supplies needed for Second Card:

1. Starbright Designer Series Paper Ornaments

2. Whisper White Cardstock

3. Real Red Cardstock

4. Kiwi Kiss Cardstock

5. Snowflake Punch

6. Pretties Kit

7. 1" Double-stitched Baja Breeze Grosgrain Ribbon

8. Snow Swirled Stamp Set

9.Country Living Holiday Collection Stamp Set

Want to make your own? You can purchase these supplies and other great products 24/7 here.

Christmas Stamp a Stack Class

I wanted to show you all what we'll be making at our Christmas Stamp a Stack Classes on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. Click on about me to contact me and don't forget to click on my class schedules for more information on this and future classes. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Banner

I am so thrilled with how my Thanksgiving Banner has turned out. My Big Shot by Sizzix (and now available through Stampin' Up!) made this project soooooo easy! I just love what I can do with this die cutting machine! No stamping or ink but just as fun! 

Purse Card

I've made several of these purse cards but have never seemed to take a picture of it to share. So now, I have and this sample is the one I made for my son's teacher's birthday! Whew! I love the colors of the Designer Series Paper. I think orange may become my favorite color.

  

Stamp Club

Our 2nd meeting of Stamp Club was tonight and the ladies and I had a lot of fun! The key is to keep it simple. I think the projects we did came out nicely. We worked on the Dahlia flower (punches and folding) today. I'll post more pictures on how we made the flower later. But for now, please enjoy Tanya's samples that I was able to capture.

Season of Friendship

Just finished making these cards for my mother-in-law. She wanted me to make her some thank you cards that she could send to her docent friends from the Art Institute of Chicago. I tried the "rock-n-roll" technique on the leaves. I think it came out quite nice. Love the colors and makes me really miss the changing of leaves in Chicago & Atlanta. 

Happy Halloween

One of my goals this year was to join a non-profit group and be a volunteer. I was fortunate enough to join the Ronald McDonald House through Stampin' Up!

Demonstrators get together and bring our craft ideas to the home and help the families try to get their minds off of what's going on and have fun making paper crafts. We also make treats throughout the year for the families staying at the home.

These were my contributions this year for Halloween. I love how it turned out and I hope whoever got my creations enjoyed it.

Christmas Advent Kit

If you're interested in making your own Christmas Countdown, I've made a kit with all the materials and instructions to make it EASY and SIMPLE for you.  You'll receive 24 Kraft boxes, Ski Slope Designer Series Paper (you can substitute another Designer Series Paper as long as you email me with your choice) for lining the boxes and belly band, ribbon, and the Christmas Countdown Rub-On. Canvas and Frame not included. The large Christmas Countdown Rub-on (11.5"x21.5") Kit is $45. The medium (8 5/8" x 16 1/4") is $40. The small (6 7/8" x 13") is $35. Flate rate shipping is $6.95. It'll be a great addition to your home and one you'll be proud of to show every year! Please contact me if you're interested.

Christmas Decoration Part 1

I saw this at convention and had to make my own version of it! Christmas is my favorite holiday like probably most others. And getting all the decorations and the TREE ready is the best, especially now that the kids are older and can help me! This is part one of what I am making for our decorations. Its using our Decor Elements line. (Vinyl "rub-on") Its really easy to use and for those who like to change it up, which I do, is perfect for decorating your rooms. It can be permanent or you can easily take it down once you get tired of it! Anyhow, the blank part in the middle is for the numbers, which will be hung onto the hook (which I will put on soon). This way, I can use it over and over again. The little boxes are covered with some Designer Paper and I lined the inside of the box so that when the little treats are gone...I have something nice to look at. And the boxes are attached to the canvas with velcro so the kids can take it down to get their treats. I think its great. Looks nice and has a fun purpose!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday that seems a little short changed. But here's a project that I did using Stampin' Up's vinyl (Decor Elements) to jazz up this frame, which I plan on using year after year during this blessed time of year! It was super easy to do. A nice background paper which is one of our Designer Series Paper from our Mini Holiday Catalog, a few branches for texture and depth, and the vinyl on the glass. Thanks for Looking!

Free Standing Pop-up Card

I've been lazy and haven't taken pictures of my recent projects. So finally, here is my free standing pop-up card that I made in honor of World Card Making Week. If you want to know how I made it, please feel free to email me. Better yet, sign up to take a class and I can show you exactly how! The stamp set that I used is It's a Stretch (111586) $23.95 from Stampin' Up! If you can't make it to one of my classes, you can always purchase a "class to go". 

Waterfall Card

I was challenged to make a card for a swap using one of my favorite stamp sets...what else??? Crazy for Cupcakes! I saw this waterfall card technique on Splitcoaststampers.com and so here is my version! Pull on the tab.

Keep Pulling!

 

Surprise!

Rolling with the Punches

My friend, Elisa, is a creative goddess! I couldn't help but want to share this when I received it. (I had to get permission first although she wouldn't have minded but anyhow here it is now.)  For the cat lovers, I'm sorry but I am not a cat person. Long story short--traumatic experience as a child and therefore the aversion to cats. But when I saw this card made from punches, I thought it was genius. 

See what creative things you can do with stamps, some ink, some paper, and little imagination?!

For more information on this card or how you can create it yourself, please email Elisa at idreamparis@roadrunner.com.

Swap Storage

For Anaheim regional, I decided to decorate plastic bins that my friend, Elisa and I could take our swaps in and later use for storage. I still use my old one but with the new Statement of the Heart stamp, I decided to update. Here's the latest version. I'm loving the color combination of the Urban Garden Designer Series Paper.

Faux Metal

Another new for me this year has been starting a stamping technique club. We have a great group of women. The first technique I decided to teach was the faux metal. I saw this on Stampin' Up! and a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.com. Here is an example of what we did. 

Simple yet elegant. 

Card Recipe:

Stamp: So Scallops

Ink: Versamark Pad

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, & Brushed Silver Card Stock

Accessories: Silver embossing powder, heating tool, square scallop punch, 1" double stitched grosgrain ribbon (Choc. Chip), and Flower Designer Brads.

Faux Metal Technique: 

*Stamp your image with the vers

amark pad and set aside for final step.

1. Coat brushed silver card stock with versamark pad.

2. Layer with silver embossing powder & heat with heating tool. 

3. The powder will change to a shiny luster.

4. While hot, quickly sprinkle another layer of embossing powder and heat again. Repeat 2x to get a thick layer.

5 . On the final layer, you'll want to work quickly. Heat the last layer again with the heating tool to ensure that it is hot, then press your stamp on to the embossed area firmly. Trim or punch out your image and add it to your card. ENJOY!

Best Wishes & More

This is my swap for our Stamp "In" Fellowship group meeting. I LOVE the bird die cut and stamps with birds that Stampin' Up! have developed. What do you think?

Card Recipe: 

Stamp: Best Wishes & More and Always

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip Classic Pads.

Paper: Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, and Chocolate Chip Card Stock.

Accessories: 1" double stitched ribbon (Choc. Chip), Sizzix Top Note Bigz Die (SU exclusive), and Sizzix Birds & Blooms Sizzlits Die (SU exclusive).

New Space

This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I don't know why, but I feel inspired to start my own blog. And so I thought it would be appropriate to start with something about my new space at home since this will be my new home and space on-line! My dear, wonderful husband gave up his "man" theater room so that I could have more space to create my cards and whatever projects I wanted to. Its still a work in progress but I wanted to share what I've done so far! And thanks to my great friend Jennifer, we assembled this piece ourselves. My husband provided the muscles! Once this was all put in place, I took ideas from Stampin' Up! Convention and attached kitchen hanging rods (from Ikea) to the doors so that I could hang my punches. The sides are all drawers that contain most of my stamp collection and accessories. The middle portion of the cabinets hold my Cricut, Light Table, Files, and other knick knacks that all can come out with sliding shelves! I wanted something that would go with the rest of the decor in my home, pleasing to the eye, and store ALL my stamping supplies. I think the complete piece accomplished that. As I said, its still a work in progress because the very top shelves will hold 3-D items to display what can be done with *some stamps, ink, paper, and imagination.* I'd also like to incorporate the many wonderful designs from the Decor Elements line. Its endless! Enjoy!

The start of something NEW

Okay. I've been inspired by other demonstrators to move into this direction. I'm expanding my horizons and ready to share my creations with even more people. I hope this goes well and is welcomed by others. Already, I feel a little overwhelmed. Please stay tuned for pictures and the development of my blog!