Rubber Room Stampin'

STAMPIN' AT THE LIBRARY--IN MI WUK VILLAGE, CA

As I've mentioned before, more than once I'm sure, I facilitate a stamping class at my local library on the 3rd Thursday of every month.  I consider this event my community service but do charge $2 per participant.  $1 goes to the library (High Country Friends Fund) and $1 goes to me to just cover my supplies.  We have a super time.  I've had several calls this morning and last night wondering 'how the roads are in Mi Wuk' and 'have the roads been cleared?'  I'm happy to say YES.  This will be the first stampin' event I've been able to hold all month.

That said, here are the cards we made for February.  Our librarian, Joan, requests a St. Patrick's Day card every February so she can send it to her son.  His birthday is December 21st, but.........9 months prior......well you get the picture.  There was definitely a glint in his parents' eyes on the St. Patrick's Day before his birth!  :)  And this is his "Happy Conception" card!  I think he's probably in his 50s now.

Ingredients:
Stamp Set:  All Year Cheer III (retired), Daisy Field wheel (retired)
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Green Galore, Whisper White, Brushed Gold
Ink: Green Galore
Accessories:  Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, White Gel Pen, Punches:  Circle: 1/4", 1/2", 1", 1-1/4", 1-3/8", Scalloped; Word Window, Key Tag, Large & Small Oval, 5-Petal Flower; Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Around Handle (regular), Stamp-a-majig

This card was inspired by Samantha Parisi, an SU! demonstrator who lives in Florida.  I think she is the "punches" queen! 

TIP #1:  To create the 'mustache', punch a circle using Pumpkin Pie cardstock and the 1" circle punch.  Attach, with a tiny bit of adhesive, a popcycle stick sized piece of scrap paper to the edge of the punched circle.  Then you can poke it into the 5-Petal Flower punch and punch out the mustache, using 2 petals as a guide, adjusting the circle as necessary.  You can get 2 mustaches from each circle.

TIP #2:  To create the 'handle' for the cauldron, using Basic Black cardstock, punch out a small oval (using the small oval punch).  Then, centering that oval hole inside the large oval punch, punch out another "oval" and you'll have your handle.

Do you remember the card I showed you several days ago where I stated that you could use the same layout for other colors, themes, and images?  Well, I challenged myself to do exactly that and that's what you see on this St. Patrick's day card.

Here's the card from the several days ago:

Card #2
 

And this is the second card we made, inspired by Penny McCallum, a demonstrator from Illinois.  (I think.)  I loved the colors, the simplicity and the fact that you can put almost any greeting you want at the bottom of the card.

Ingredients:
Stamp Set:  A Little Birdie Told Me, Elegant Cheer
Cardstock:  Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss, Black Staz-on
Accessories:  Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper; Punches: Scallop Edge, 3/4" and 1" Circles; Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla Satin Ribbon, SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals

So, that's it for today.  Eight women had a great time making our cards.  And here was my husband's thought for today:

CHEEP TALK

I just love this new and cheery stamp set, Cheep Talk, p. 90, 113204, $26.95.  There's a great new Designer Series Paper that coordinates with it as well.  Good Morning Sunshine, p. 160, 113966, $9.95.  And then it also coordinates with the Good Friend stamp set, p. 91, 113740, $28.95.  With these three items you can make unlimited cheery and bright cards.

With the inspiration of a fellow demonstrator, Connie Babbert from Ohio, I played around with this card.  Check out this one first:

ABOVE:  Nice composition and balance and color. But...........now look at the one BELOW.....

Look at the POP created by just a layer of Basic Black cardstock (and a layer of Riding Hood Red CS under the little birdie).  You could substitute many stamp images and DSPs and, using this same layout, come out with hundreds of new and appealing cards!

Ingredients:

Stamp Sets:  Cheep Talk, Curvy Verses

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red

Accessories:  Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, 1/16" circle punch, Rich Regals Brads (Regal Rose brad), Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive

If you do a card with this layout, send it to me at blythe@stampinwithblythe.com , and I'll post it on my blog, along with your name.  I love to see what others create!

Still snowin' in Mi Wuk.......

TREAT BAG with TOPPER TUTORIAL

Yesterday I shared the clever treat bag that guests will be receiving at a family shower for our newest family member, Zion.  He's almost 2 weeks old already.  Anyway, here are my step-by-step guidelines.

You're going to need:

Big Shot

Multi Purpose Platform, Texturz Impression Pad, Texturz Silicon Pad, SU! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates

Standard Cutting Pads, 2 shims (come with cutting pads), SU! Top Note Bigz Die

Extended Cutting Pads, SU! Movers & Shapers Curly Label Bigz XL die

Stamp Set:  Yummy (S-A-B)

Cardstock:  Baja Breeze, Kraft

Ink:  Baja Breeze

Other Accessories:  Crop-a-dile, SNAIL adhesive, Baja Breeze 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon

 

ABOVE:  Here's the pile of items you'll be needing.  Not shown:  Baja Breeze stamp pad, Crop-a-dile, ribbon, snail adhesive

 

ABOVE: First thing to do is to put the texture on your cardstock.  You'll need an 11" x 4-1/4" piece of Kraft cardstock.

-Open the Multipurpose platform so that Tab 2 is laying flat (like having an open book in front of you). 

-In the top right hand corner of the multipurpose platform is the diagram for using the Texture Plate:  Place texture plate of choice on top of tab 1 with "Sizzix" and Stampin' Up! logos facing right or away from the hinge.

-Place cardstock on top of texture plate, centering it and being sure that at least 4-1/2" - 5" are on the plate itself.

-Top cardstock with Silicon Rubber Pad

-Top Silicon Rubber Pad with Impressions Pad

 

ABOVE:  Feed through Big Shot.

 

ABOVE: Carefully lay texturized CS on top of Curly Label die, aligning it top/bottom and left/right.  You want your movable Curly Label die piece to be about 3/4" - 1" from the center of the die.  That center part of the die is where the fold will be embossed; your curly label hole will be just above that fold, allowing for you to score, with your personal paper cutter, 1/2" on either side of the score line created by the die.  Those scored lines will create the base of the treat bag.  Clear as mud?  Hang in there!   Be sure to place the Extended Cutting pads below and above the Curly Label die.

 

Above:  Feed this 'sandwich' through the Big Shot.

 

ABOVE:  This sheet of cardstock has an extended length of texture  which was caused by where I placed it on the texturz plate.  If you click to enlarge the photo you'll see that the fold score is just about an inch from the Curly Label window.

 

ABOVE:  This is just a view of the card folded along the embossed score line.  Set it aside for now.

 

ABOVE:  Bigz Top Note Die:  Place a Standard Cutting Pad at the bottom of this sandwich.  Then, for my particular Big Shot's calibration, I place 2 of the thin plastic shims that come with the Standard Cutting Pads.  Top the shims with the Top Note die.  Then comes the Baja Breeze cardstock which has been precut to 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" (one quarter of an 8-1/2" x 11" piece of CS).  Be sure you have the cutting blades of the die covered.  Top this with the second Standard Cutting Pad.  Run through the Big Shot.

You're now done with your 'sandwiches' and cutting.  Learning how to create these 'sandwiches' was the most frightening part of working with the Big Shot for me.  After a bit of practice it becomes almost intuitive.  And you can always zip me an email or make a comment on this post if you're confused.  I'll answer just as soon as I can with a tip or clue.

Take your Baja Breeze Top Note and, using a ruler and stylus or bone folder,  score a line along the long side from 'point' to point'.  You will stamp on the lower half, crease the Top Note, and fold it over the top of your bag.  See photo below:

 

 

ABOVE:  Score 1/2" on each side of the score mark (at 4-1/4") that was created by the Curly Label die

 

ABOVE:  Using a Small Flat Cello Bag (103104, p. 157, $3.95/50), fill it about 1/4 with candy of your choice.  I found some dark chocolate M&Ms in my cupboard so used them for today's bag.  About 1-1/4" from the top of the bag, run a line of Snail adhesive, and fold it over.  Then run a bit a Snail on the back of the fold and lay the bag down flat, as shown in the photo, and attach it to the back of the bag.

 

ABOVE:  Place a little bit of Snail at the top of the bag and pinch the top edges together.

 

ABOVE:  Lay the topper over the top of the bag and punch a hole in the center with the Crop-a-dile.  Use the larger punch.

 

ABOVE:  Apply about 2" of Snail adhesive on the front and back sides of the topper and secure, ensuring that the punched holes line up.

 

ABOVE:  Slip a 5" piece of Baja Breeze 5/8" Striped Grosgrain ribbon through the punched hole.  Tie in a know.  You're done!

I hope you try this bag for yourself---any season, any colors, any stamp set.  IF you're using a texturz plate, be sure to do that step first.  Then proceed with your other components.

See you soon........and have fun!

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SALE-A-BRATION AND NOW IT'S HERE!

If you don't know about Sale-A-Bration then let me tell you about it right now!  It's the best time of the Stampin' Up! year because you can easily 'earn' some FREE STAMP SETS (or ribbon or DSP) during this promotion.  What's not to love about FREE (most of the time) anything?

For every $50 order you place you will earn one FREE item from the Sale-a-Bration mini-catalog.  You can also earn free Sale-a-Bration product/s by hosting a workshop or becoming a demonstrator.  Sale-a-Bration runs from February 1-March 31, 2009 so there's still plenty of time to take advantage of this opportunity.

How about some samples?  My stampin' friend, Kimberley Morris, came up with this cute Valentine Treat Holder using the Yummy stamp set from the Sale-a-Bration mini catalog.  (And how can YOU get one????)

Then I changed it up for a "Meet & Greet" shower favor that we're going to have for Zion and his mommy and daddy next weekend (which was his 'due' date but he decided to arrived early and wipe out the originally planned shower!)  The only M&Ms I have in the house right now are pink Valentine ones and I just didn't have the heart to put them in this little bag.  I'll be getting some before the shower though.

I almost forgot to tell you what the ingredients are for this bag!  You really need your Big Shot for this one!  I used the new Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates (114512, p. 203), the Bigz Stampin' Up! Top Note die (113463, p. 196) and the new Stampin' Up! Movers & Shapers Curly Label Bigz XL die (114506, p. 195).  Of course, I used the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439, p. 193).

Additionally:

Stamp Set:  Yummy (S-A-B)

Cardstock:  Kraft, Baja Breeze

Ink:  Baja Breeze

Other Accessories:  Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Crop-a-dile, medium cello bags (when I add the M&Ms I'll be using that cello bag!), SNAIL adhesive

I'll prepare a tutorial to walk you through the steps for this project because it's not quite as it appears.  Look for it tomorrow or the next day.

Do you remember the card I showed in mid-January using the same colors?  I just love the Manchester Designer Seriers Paper.  

You can order online at anytime via my Stampin' Up! demonstrator website or by contacting me directly via email.  Take advantage of Sale-a-Bration!

I'll be back tomorrow with a step-by-step tutorial on making these great treat bags.

Still snowin' in Mi Wuk Village......

WELCOME FEBRUARY ... I'm a wee bit late!

No, I haven't been living under a rug or in a cave.  I've just been mindlessly busy tending to life.  A new life came into our family in the way of my new little grandson, Zion Alexander, on February 3rd.  Of course I had to spend some time with him and his family. 

What a sweet Valentine!

Then there is that nasty cold that's going around the world I think.  Coughing, blowing my nose, sleeping and not being able to hear for over 2 weeks now.  It too shall pass.  I hope!  Finally, our mountain hideaway has become a winter wonderful, complete with shoveling, blowing and plowing every day's snowfall for days on end.   Yesterday we had a spate of sunshine so we put the flag out for awhile.

But then this morning.........

One more shot photo from yesterday and then it's back to the business/FUN of stamping!  My husband built this British Phone Box for me as a Christmas gift.  Needless to say it's the largest piece in my collection.  It's totally dry inside.  Not warm, but dry. 

And now, back to FUN business......on to the next entry please........