Washi Storage And Some News!

I've been in the process of trying to re organize my stamp room.  I do this 1-2 times a year.  Usually about this time of year it gets a deep clean.  It's good to clear out things that aren't used anymore or fix things that aren't really functioning well.  I saw this idea on Pintrest and it was one of those "DUH!" moments where you're like "why didn't I think of that!?"  I used an old wax paper box and covered it with some DSP.  I made a super simple belly band with some white cardstock.  This is really only to keep the box closed.  But in the box......

....all my Washi tape rolls, lined up so I can see them.  Previously they were stored in a basket where I couldn't see them all and it was a mess to dump them all out and dig through them.  Really not ideal.  This is perfect!!  I didn't include the cardboard roll that the wax paper was on because this way if I need to take a roll out to use it I don't have to worry about it being on the roll and I can take out just the roll I need.  Love that!!!  If I don't need to take the roll out I can use it in the box.  Perfect!!!!! 

Now to the news....not to worry it's happy news :) 

1)  Today I leave for another sure to be amazing scrapbook weekend this time the theme is Craft In The City.  I'm so stinkin' excited.  I'm not entirely sure what I'll be working on.  This is the first time I'm going without a detailed list of projects I want to get done.  I just know that I'm going to be stamping, trying new techniques and having fun!  Maybe I'll catch up on some sleep ;)  If you're on Facebook make sure to follow me here.  I post LOTS and LOTS at these weekends.  If you want to see what I'm working on, and all the fun we're having make sure to like me.  Plus there might just be some fun giveaways through out the weekend........

2)  Stampin' Up! is releasing 4 new Sale a Bration items.  You can see them here, you'll be able to start earning them on your orders on March 1st.  They're so fun!!!!  Because it's Sale-a-Bration, because I'm having fun at Craft In The City I'm doing a double punch weekend.  If you have a punch card from me all orders through Tuesday March 3rd will get double punches.  Normally you get a punch for every $35 you spend, this weekend only you'll get 2, order $70 and get 4 punches, etc.  You can order online here or you can email me your order (I will respond to all emails on Monday).  Use this hostess code TS9W9YDG and you could win even more prizes!!! 

3)  Finally I'll have a huge recap of Craft In The City next week on my blog! 

 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!

 

Paper Pumpkin, February

Are you a Paper Pumpkin Subscriber???  If you're not you should be!  The kits are amazing, I have LOVED the last few months and they keep getting better!!!  This month was no exception.  I love these boxes with the extra long thank you card!  So cute!!!!  Plus it comes right to your door with everything you need!  What could be better!!!??!

The 'thanks' is so adorable in the Tangerine Tango felt letters.  They're super sticky too so you don't have to worry about them falling off.  The backgrounds in this stamp set are soooo fun too!!!  Because the stamps are clear you can easily line them up for perfect placement.

The kits come with ink, this one came with Pool Party and Daffodil Delight.  I wanted to add a little Tangerine Tango so I pulled out that ink too. 

Still have some questions about Paper Pumpkin?  Why not gather some friends and have a fun trial evening with me!  I'll bring some complete kits so you can see what all the fun is about.  Ready to sign up for your own subscription sign up here.  You can get a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month subscription (you save a little with the 6 and 12 month subscriptions!) PLUS you can earn Sale a Bration products with the 3, 6 and 12 month subscriptions.  Contact me for more info!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Bunny Boxes

How A-DOR-ABLE are these little bunnies!!!????!!  I came across them on Pintrest the other day and had to make them instantly!  I made them for my guests at my class over the weekend.  I know you want to know how to make them.  Here's the directions, dimensions and everything you want to know!  They are so cute!!!!

They're a great size too.  You could fill it with lots of little candy or one big one (like I did!).  I did try and you can also fit one of those travel packages of tissues perfectly!  That would make one fun get well gift!!

These boxes were super cute, and so easy to make!  I made 10 in one evening.  You could also add a tail to the back if you wanted an extra dose of cuteness!!  I didn't think of that until later but I'll probably make some more of these for some fun Easter basket stuff-ers :)

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

More Masculine Cards

I think this cute balloon card from my Masculine Card class is my favorite.  It's simple but bright and fun.  I love that the string ties the balloon and greeting together (haaahaa!!)  It's really a fun card and you could easily mass produce this one and make it in ANY color and it would work!!!

Finally the last card from my class is this one.  I love Black and Cherry Cobbler together!  Such a fun color combo!  I love that the DSP is crooked on purpose, it a fun card to make!!  I will admit this picture was taken before my class.  This is the card that my customers were supposed to make but due to a cutting error on my part they made a modified version.  I forgot to cut an extra piece of Cherry Cobbler Cardstock to put under the stamped Vanilla piece.  The cards made at my class were still stinkin' cute just without the extra red piece. 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!

Masculine Card Class

Over the weekend I held a Masculine Card Class.  I know I stuggle with masculine cards, I know I'm not the only one.  I found some inspiration for a couple of my cards on Pintrest.  This first card has been on my list to make for a while and I've always thought it would work perfect on for a masculine card.  I was inspired by this card by Teneale Williams.  She's a fantasic demonstrator in Australia, I'm always in awe of her work.  I kept mine a little more simple.  The bikes are embossed in clear embossing powder and I added some banners on the top of the card. Super cute!!  I love it!!! 

The next card was a fun one, but really simple!!  I love the shine from the silver metallic paper (you could also use glitter paper and send it to a girl!) :)  Obviously the 'star' of this card is the star framelits.  I love these colors together too, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky and Island Indigo.  So fun!!!  I'll share the other two cards tomorrow!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Perpetual Calendar

The Perpetual Calendar in the Occasions Catalog is sooooooo cute!!!  I love these kits they include everything you need, plus lots of extras!!  I had a little mini class yesterday with some friends who wanted to make the calendar.  Of course one of the great things about the kits is that you can customize the calendar anyway you choose.

I've always like the idea of perpetual calendar.  I used to have one.....I couldn't tell you where it is now though :)  but it doesn't matter this one is wayyyyyy cuter!!!  AND the kit comes with an entire bag of gold glitter!!  By the way, I believe all kits should come with a bag of gold glitter :) 

I'm not sure if this will help me send birthday cards (goodness knows I'm pretty bad at it!).  Of course the idea of it is that it will help you remember to send the cards.....at least if I forget I won't feel as bad looking at such a cute calendar :)

Every month has a different page and there's a beautiful clipboard to put them on and switch them every month.  I think that will be my downfall, remember to change the calendar once a month :)  Wish me luck!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Flowers and Leaves Thanks

Today's card is the result of what to do with spare leftover, messed up pieces on your desk.  I've debated sharing this or not, it's not my favorite card, but I love the concept and I love taking my messed up scraps and seeing what I can do with them.  I started with the flower,  I had originally stamped it in Soft Sky, I thought it needed some extra color around the edges so I 'rocked and rolled' the stamp in Island Indigo ink, then 'lined' it back up again.  I wasn't too happy with the way it stamped.  The color is mainly on the tips of the flower, which is ok, just not the look I envisioned.  So I put it aside for a few days, when I came back to it I decided to try it as more of a background and not the focal point of the card.  I used the letters framelits and cut out the word 'THANKS'.

I put a much darker color behind the cut out words, because I knew a bolder color would draw your eyes to the greeting first.  I think this flower with the 'rock and roll' technique works as a background.  When something doesn't work out as planned, I generally wait a few days before I scrap the project all together. There's always a creative way to fix it, if not it's only paper :)

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!

Birthday Box

If you saw my post yesterday you saw the crazy fun fishy shaker card/gift card holder.  I mentioned at the end of the post that I created a box to put the card in.  This box is pretty standard.  I didn't write down measurements, but it's your basic flat folding box and if you search pintrest or google for 'Stampin' Up! flat folding box' you'll find tons of tutorials.

The best part of this box.  The letters!!!  I used the new alphabet clay mold in the Occasions catalog with our Simply Pressed Clay. I love our clay!!!!  It is so much fun to use!!!  These letters are so fun!!!!  I made the appropriate letters then let them dry.  The morning of the party I finished them, by sponging some Melon Mambo ink on them with my sponge dauber.  I used Tombow liquid glue to attach the letters to the box.  So cute!!

The box again is super simple, I added a button on the front to tuck the top flap into and hold it closed.  It's about an inch high so it hold the fishy shaker card perfectly!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!

Fishy Shaker Gift Card Holder

This was one of the craziest cards I've ever made.  It all started with a gift card.....more on that later.  My friend and fellow demonstrator, Carmelita, moved away in December :( She returned over the weekend for her daughters birthday party.  My kids were very excited to go!  It was a costume party, Logan went as a soccer player and Megan went as ......wait for it.....Elsa from Frozen.  We need a gift, of course!  We (I) decided to go the easy way and get a gift card.  It's easier for Carmelita to bring home on a plane and the couple times when Logan has received gift cards he's loved them!  So I hope she liked the Target gift card :)  The gift card (you'll see it in a minute) had a fish on it.  So while driving home.  I mentally sketched a card design (I do this a lot, I'm pretty sure that's where all my brain power has gone...to storing all my ideas, sketches and projects).

My vision was to have a shaker card as if the fish was in a fish bowl.  My original fish bowl card didn't work so I went with a square 5x5 card. I made the fish with punches and used vellum and my Bermuda Bay Blendabilites for the 'waves' in the background.  I used the brush tip and just drew waves on Vellum.  The fish is pretty simple, just the small oval and the 1 1/4 inch circle.  That's it! Then I made the shaker card.  I made it really thick!  I used 3 layers of foam to make the shaker part then I put in lots of sequins (from a big hobby store). 

I'm still learning and perfecting my shaker card process.  I always get little bits sticking all the way around the shaker window and I never seem to put enough in so I feel like there's not enough to shake.  It's a learning curve.  As with anything, it takes time and practice really makes perfect.  Someday I'll have a perfect process for my shaker cards.  I printed a greeting for the front and the outside on vellum.  I love these little puns, the front says: "sending you birthday fishes!" Inside I printed: "Hope your day is fin-tastic!"  So cute!!

Part of the vision of this card was to create a place for the gift card.  So I created a little sliding panel behind the card front. This was super easy probably the easiest part of the card.  I'll have more on how I did this in another post.  I think typing it out is far too confusing, some visual aids will help and of course that didn't occur to me while assembling the card :/  I'll try to have it up next week.  But pretty much you pull the little panel and the gift card slided out.  So cute!!!!!  That fishy gift card is pretty cute.

Finally the inside I just attached the vellum with some White Bakers twine and had Logan sign his and Megan's names.  It was a super time consuming card and I wouldn't have done it for just anyone.  These are the cards you want people to hang on to.  I knew Carmelita would appreciate it so it was time well spent!  I will point out though, this card was big 5x5 plus the slide out panel and it was probably 1/2 inch thick with the foam shaker.....Not one that I would mail....maybe in a padded envelope???  So what did I put it in???  I made a special box for it, check back tomorrow to see the box for the shaker card :)

 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!

Birthday Friends

I'm totally smitten with this fun set, From The Herd.  I love all these sweet farm animals!  For this card though I decided to cut them apart from the heard.  I stamped the entire image, colored only the three animals I wanted with Blendabilties and cut them out.  That was the most time consuming part of this card.  I've said it before, I really don't mind the fussy cutting, I find it strangely comforting :)  I really wanted the llama in my card, his expression just cracks me up, but in the stamped image his body isn't complete so I needed a way to include all the animals while hiding their bottoms.  I thought them all peeking through circles would be cute!

To finish the card I added some color and texture around the outside with my sponge daubers and some Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip ink.  I stamped the greeting and balloon on my card and added some epoxy stickers that had been colored with my Blendabilities.  I didn't like the look of the balloon with the shiny epoxy stickers so I stamped the balloon again on scrap paper, cut it out and covered it in Crystal Effects.  Then it had the same shiny look and it all just coordinated better.  It's a super fun card and I just love it!!! 

Painted Petals Thanks

The Painted Petals set in the Occasions catalog really is one of the sweetest stamp sets in the catalog.  The flowers are so easy and fun to work with.  I quickly stamped this background with the stamps in no time.  My biggest tip when your stamping a whole sheet like this and making a background: start with your largest stamps first.  You can fill in the small spaces later with smaller stamps.  Make sure you get your large ones down first.  I stamped the Blackberry Bliss and Strawberry Slush flowers first then filled in all the leaves and the Hello Honey dots. 

For the greeting I used the 'thanks' from the Hello You Thinlits in Black cardstock.  I stacked 3 of them together to give them more stability.  I originally thought I would use my sticker maker but that didn't work so well.  What was the problem?  It suck too well. Normally that isn't an issue but with these words, when you're stacking them, it's important to be able to line them up exactly and with the adhesive from the sticker maker, once it was down it wasn't moving, so I switched to Tombow because I could as least wiggle it into place before it dried.  To finish the 'thanks' I went over it with some Crystal Effects.  I love this look, I think it gives it a finish similar to our fun Epoxy Stickers.  I just love that look!!!! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Gold Butterfly

I think I've shared all my Valentine treats with you.  Logan didn't want anything fancy so he did his own, store bought {gasp!}.  It really was easier this year, plus it was a good lesson in responsibility since it was all him.  I had the Butterfly Basics stamp set sitting on my desk for a couple days and this gold butterfly that I had ran through my sticker maker to test it out. So on a whim one afternoon I just started stamping.  I was all pretty random.  I wasn't exactly sure where it was going but I think it ended up lovely!  I used the flower and fern stamps to create the background, it's very random.  The edge needed a little something so I stamped the border along it and finished with a greeting. 

I added the butterfly but thought it needed some color to it.  So I had a scrap of Calypso Coral on my desk and used that.  This card was really the result of a lazy afternoon of stamping and just using what was in arms length.  It's a great way to challenge yourself and be creative, not to mention clean up your desk!  :)  And I'm still super happy with my sticker maker!  To read more about it check out this post from last week.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Color Your Heart Out

I saw a really cute idea for some Valentine gifts for pre-schoolers with some crayons.  I'm all for the non-candy version of Valentine's especially for the kids, so I thought this would be a really cute idea for Megan's class.  I made up some quick tags in MDS, and printed them at home.  There's 16 kids in Megan's class so I only needed 2 sheets!  The tags are 2x3.

Now these gifts are for 4 and 5 year olds.  I did contemplate making adorable bags for them, but then realized that these are for 4 AND 5 YEAR OLDS.  They're going to rip them apart and throw the packaging away......I decided to package them in dollar store Valentine bags.  Each bag has a box of crayons.  I attached the tag with some of our Painted Blooms Twine.  And I was done!  Valentines for an entire class in under 30 minutes!  Awesome!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Resist Valentine

I have a really fun Valentine card for you today.  I used the Embossing Resist technique, it's so fun! Plus you get the added bonus that the card looks really labor intensive when really it was all done in no time!  To start with I stamped and embossed all the hearts on the background in White Embossing Powder (you could also use clear, I just happened to have white on my desk).  I didn't use a stamp a ma jig I just stamped them and tried to get them as close to a pattern as I could.  The hearts, by the way, are from the Groovy Love set in the big catalog.  It's a great set with lots of fun hearts, plus they coordinate with the Sweetheart punch!  Once your hearts are embossed you just use a sponge, sponge dauber, brayer, spritzer anything to add color to your card.  The embossing powder 'resists' the ink.  I used Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride and Calypso Coral for my colors.  I made sure to make it lighter on top, but I did go in with my Calypso Coral ink and go over all the hearts to make sure they pop, even the ones one top with the lighter ink.

For the tag I used the Perpetual Birthday Calendar set for all the little hearts.  I stamped and embossed another heart in gold this time as well as the greeting.  To finish it I added a little gold sequin trim and some bakers twine.  I used some glue dots to hole the ends of the gold sequin in place, plus the glue dot keeps any stray sequin from falling off.  So cute!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Valentine Fox

We're only a few days away from Valentine's, I'll have lots of fun Valentine cards and treats for you this week.  Today's card is such a cute card and would work for almost anyone.  This card I think I'll give to Logan.  He love little foxes and when I saw this sweet fox in the Hey, Valentine stamp set I immediately thought of him.  The card is stamped in the Silver Encore Pad with the little hearts from the Chalk Lines stamp set.  I kept with the silver theme and added some silver foil paper and some DSP from the Stacked With Love DSP pack.

As for the fox himself, he's colored with Blendabilities then cut out.  Then I stamped the image a second time and punched it out.  I used my Blendabilities again for a fun ombre background.  Then the fox is attached with some dimensionals.  Finally to finish the card I used some the Epoxy Stickers colored with my Blendabilities.  So cute!!!  I love this sweet card!!! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Magic Cake

I have the cutest little card for you today!  If you make this and give it your your friends they will think you're magic!  I used the Mini Treat Bag Framelit from the Occasions Catalog.  It's the first time I've used it, can't believe it took me so long!  I cut it out of Pink Pirouette and then punched a hole in the front with my 2 inch circle punch.  The rest of the front is pretty straight forward.  The greeting is stamped and some parts highlighted with Blendabilities, then for some extra interest I added lots of Candy Dots and rhinestones.  Now to the magic part.

When you pull the card out of the treat bag the cake magically becomes colored!  Isn't that the best, most magical thing ever!!!!?!!  Anyone you give this card too will be amazed!!  You will love how easy it is to make too!!!  All you need is 2 sheets of White Cardstock and a Window Sheet all cut the same size (for my card they're all 5x3 1/4).  Line up your window sheet and the white base it will go on and stamp the Window Sheet with Staz-On on the back.  Quickly while the ink is still wet press it onto your white cardstock.  This transfers the exact image in the exact place to the white cardstock.

You can see in this picture more of what I mean. Your image is stamped on the Window Sheet then pressed onto the white cardstock.  Once it's on the white cardstock you can color it, I also added a candle to mine.  My window sheet is attached to my white cardstock with 3 staples on the top.  DO NOT ADHERE IT ANYWHERE BUT THE TOP.  Then the staples are covered up with some ribbon.  So how does the magic happen.  That's where you 2nd piece of white cardstock comes in.

On the second piece score about 1/2 inch from the bottom and adhere that inside your treat bag (I did that step before the bag was assembled).  So then you have a 'liner' in your bag.  When you put your card back into the treat bag make sure that your window sheet goes in on the front of the liner and the rest of your card goes in behind the liner.  What will show through the front is a plain, uncolored cake.  When you remove the card the cake 'magically' becomes colorful and beautiful!  I hope you try this technique, it's so much fun!!!!  By the way the stamp set that I used is the Sale A Bration set Big Day.  When you buy the Mini Treat Bags framelits, Window Sheets and cardstock you can pick this set free!!! 

 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Shaker Birthday Balloons

 Megan was invited to her friends birthday party last weekend. They're twins, so you know double the fun :)  We got the invitation about 10 days before the party.  We kept asking Megan, do you want to go?  We would read her the invitation.  She would look at the invitation every day, which would prompt the questions again "Do you want to go?"  She would either say, "I'm still thinking about it." or come up with a really strange excuse, my favorite was "The invitation says there will be cake, I only like cup cakes."  {facepalm} Yes that's my daughter!  About 2 days before the party I asked her one final time if she want to go to the party, we needed to RSVP.  She said no.  We left it alone.  The day before the party, exactly 24 hours before, she said she wants to go to the party "even if there is cake and not cup cakes."  So I called the girls mom and she said there was still plenty of time to RSVP and Megan could go.  Megan would go regardless of how she felt about cake the next day.  So 24 hours before the party, they're twins, I need 2 gifts and 2 cards.  We went to the store, of course it was snowing.  Then we got home and I whipped up 2 cards.

I thought for 4 year olds the shaker cards from the December Paper Pumpkin kit would be perfect.  I paired that with the Celebrate Today stamp set.  I cut the balloon out of the Washi Sheets in the Occassions Catalog, they're so fun by they way!!!!  Can't wait to use them more!  To finish the balloon I used a black sharpie to draw the bow and string.  I put LOTS of stars and shaker bits in the frame, probably too much but I wanted them to have fun :)  We left party before the presents were opened so I hope the girls loved the gifts (oh which took 45 minutes in the toy department for Megan to make a decision) and their cards, I think they're adorable!  Oh and an update, Megan left the party saying the cake was the best cake she'd ever had.  So even though there were no cupcakes, it still all worked out :)

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!! 

Love This

I have another fun sample for you today made with the You Brighten My Day Set.  You might remember the bulbs from earlier this week here.  This set is so much fun.  I'm loving all the little pieces in it, it's a really fun set and what makes it even better is you can get it for FREE!!!!  It's one of the Sale A Bration stamp sets, this one is a great one to have in your stash!  For this card I went with some rarely used colors, I used Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe and Coastal Cabana.  I actually use Coastal Cabana a lot but not the other two.  I love the soft look of these three colors together.  I thought together they would make the perfect background for this card.  I used a ruler and with a pencil drew a few lines on my card about an inch apart.  These were the guides I used to stamp my hearts.  I wanted them pretty straight and lined up so I used my Stamp A Ma Jig for perfect placement.  It really didn't take long at all.  It actually went much quicker than even I thought it would.  If you're alternating inks, just make sure you have your cleaner and pads handy so you can clean and dry and keep stamping.  If you use one color it really would go fast.  So with the help of my Stamp A Ma Jig I lined up and stamped all my hearts.  Then I erased all those pencils lines.  You would never know there were there. 

The background is lovely and would make a great card on it's own but I wanted to try out this new tool I got....more on that in a minute.  I die cut the 'you' from the Hello You Thinlits out of Silver Glimmer Paper, I stamp the 'love' from the Crazy About You set, both in the Occasions Catalog.  That pretty much completed the card, I did add a little twine to the card to really complete it.  Now to my new tool....

I got this really fun new Xyron Sticker Maker from Amazon.  It was under $15 and I thought a good buy and defiantly worth a try to add adhesive to the back of all those thinlits, framelits and other small items.  Obviously this was not my original idea, I'm not that cleaver.  I've seen it used in many other places.  For the price, how could I pass it up.  And I LOVE IT!!!  Adhering die cuts and thinlits will never be the same!!!

I got the 2.5 inch one.  There is a larger 5 inch one.  I'll defiantly
consider that one for the future but right now I'm happy with my 2.5 inch one.  There's also a smaller one, about 1.5 inches, but it's about the same price as the 2.5 inch one, you might as well get the bigger one.  I wanted to see how well it worked so I ran a bunch of stuff, different paper, thickness, I wanted to see how well it did.  It did great on all of them!  I even put in a speech bubble from the Essential Wooden Elements.  Worked great on that too!!!

Mine came with the permanent adhesive. I also got a refill of a permanent adhesive, don't want to run out!!!  I peeled back the backing on the balloon one.  There is a lot of adhesive on there and it's a really strong hold, I'm really pleased with that.  The kids are really anxious to get their hands on this machine of mine, so this well be stored out of their reach, at least so that they can't use it unsupervised :)  I posted these last 3 pictures on Facebook over the weekend and there were a few people that had already discovered this little gem.  So who knows, maybe I'm late to the party but I love mine and I want to know, do you use a sticker maker in your crafting?  Do you love it?  Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!