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I need a card for a special friend as a thank you, so I recreated this gorgeous Christmas card that I'd made for my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack classes. And I made a few tweeks, changing the "Merry Christmas" to "Just for You" and finally placing a 5" x 5" Kraft card stock panel inside. This card measures 5-1/4" x 5-1/4" and I used Stampin' Up!'s5-1/2" x 5-1/2" Medium Square Envelopes, p. 168, 107289, $6.50/20 envelopes.
I used the Serene Snowflakes, Tree Trimmings and Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets and Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Kraft and Brushed Gold card stocks.
Ink: White Craft ink, Rich Razzleberry Classic ink, VersaMark
Accessories: Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Bigz Die: Scallop Circle #2, Gold cord, Stampin' Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder, Punches: Curly Label with Modern Label accessory label, Modern Label, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot ribbon (turned over), Stampin' Sponge, Circle Scissor Plus, Glass Mat, Heat Tool.
Let me know if I can help you re-create this card for yourself. Just email me.
Have a great day. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow........
I've mentioned in the past that I'm a member of the Auxiliary of our Mi Wuk / Sugar Pine Fire Protection District, aka our Fire Department. The Auxiliary's primary goal is to raise funds for Fire Department expenses above and beyond their very tight budget. At this time of the year we host a holiday dinner that honors our fabulous fire fighters. And I drew the name tag job this year. This morning I woke up with the idea I'm sharing below. What I dreamed is pretty much what you'll see.
I started the tags just before dinner and finished them around 9 p.m.
Of course I wanted to be able to stamp on the name tags so I used Avery 5263 White Shipping Labels. The first thing I did was take a Stampin' Up! Creamy Caramel Ink Refill---an ultimate total of about 15 drops---dripped 2-3 drops at a time on a plate. (We've had these Corelle plates forever!) Then I dipped a 1" wide paint brush in a bit of water, stroked it through the Ink Refill drops, stroked the brush around the dry edge of the plate, and then attempted to use a sort of 'dry brush' over my unprinted labels. At first I brushed each label, then the two side-by-side labels, and finally went for doing the entire page pretty much at one time, having to re-dip the brush in the water and Ink Refill and also having to add more Ink Refill drops onto the plate. When the finished labels are separated no two will look alike. Understatement? :)
Trust me---this is not difficult. After I did the dry(ish) brush across the pages, I printed the names. I use an ink jet printer and could not print before using the paint brush because the names would have smeared when I pulled the wet brush across them. That would be ugly.
Using the Berry Christmas stamp set, I stamped the holly branch image using Garden Green ink. I wanted the branch right under the first name so had to resort to using Stampin' Up!'s great Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the proper alignment. I tried 2 (mine and my husband's) before I realized I could not "just eye ball the placement"!
Above: I'm left-handed, so that's why the "ma-jig" is on the right side of the image sheet. I'm hoping to master a video camera soon and when I do I'll do a little video tutorial on using the Stamp-a-ma-jig which is a wonderful tool.
Then I added the holly berries using Real Red ink. I wanted the bird image on there as well so added it next, using a piece of scratch paper under the branch line as a mask so that the bird's feet were not below that branch. Again, Real Red Ink. I did 'chop' a few legs off so he appears to be just sitting on the branch---or in mid-air. Sigh.
Finally here's a close up of a single name tag. This is also one that's going to be redone. But it has the elements I want: rustic, 'vintage-y' background, the branch, berries and bird, and, of course, the attendee's name. First name is the important one. Last name is purely informational. We'll be in a dimly lit restaurant so a large font helps too.
At least it's not an "HELLO", my name is ............ This technique could easily be applied to a card as well. I'll have to try that when life quiets down.
Tomorrow is another play day and I have several ideas in mind. Wonder if I'll have another stamping vision tonight??????
What a fun time we had last Monday afternoon at our final Stamp Club meeting of this session. We're going to start up again in January 2010. There might be a few vacancies if you'd like to join us. If you're long-distance, I can prepare your projects and send them to you for an additional postage fee. Our current club, and the one beginning in January, is a $25/month commitment for six months only. If we have more than 6 members, the monthly amount will be reduced.
So, here's the story from yesterday: Gloria was our hostess and she made these darling pumpkins and coordinating water bottles. Inside our pumpkins were some (mandatory) peanut M&Ms, some kisses, and a mini-sized Mounds bar.
We made 2 projects. First was the clear glass Christmas ornament I showed you last week. Each person used a different color ink refill. And unfortunately I only got a photo of two of the finished products, mine and my daughter Andrea's:
Again, we used about 15 drops of Stampin' Up! ink refill. The one on the left is Rose Red with White Satin ribbon and a Rub-On. The one of the right is Rich Razzleberry with the Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot grosgrain ribbon and a Rub-On. Because I'm not at home today I can't tell you which Rub-On packages they're from--some of the packages are retired. If you'd like the step-by-step, please click here for my original post of the ornaments.
The second item we made is a Mini-Loaf Gift Box:
In a perfect world I would have been able to locate my mini loaf pans and then made a sample loaf for each attendee. But.......that was not to be, so they created and went home with empty boxes. But they had a good time!
What I like about this box is just how easy it is! You'll need a sheet of 8-12/" x 11" cardstock, coordinating Designer Series Paper, Punches: Scallop Edged, Scallop circle, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" circle; and finally, a personal paper cutter with both cutting and scoring blades.
Score the cardstock at 3/4" and 2-3/4" on all 4 sides.
Remove the 3 corner pieces from all corners: the corner one is a square, the adjacent pieces to remove from each side are narrow rectangles.
Along the SHORT sides, cut TO the 2-3/4" score line forming the flaps. See the photo above.
Use the scallop edge punch on the little 3/4" flaps. Ultimately those pieces will be folded in the opposite direction of the other folds.
Cut your Designer Series Paper to these measurements: 1-3/4" x 2-3/4" (times 2) and 1-3/4" x 5-1/4" (times 2). Attach, using Snail adhesive, to the sides of the box as shown above.
Apply adhesive to the 'back' side of the fold flaps and adhere them to the inside of the box, forming the box shape. Fold the little scalloped flaps out.
Outside decoration:
Cut one piece of same color cardstock to 8-1/2" x 1". Set aside.
On a scrap piece of Very Vanilla (or Whisper White depending upon your Designer Series Paper), Stamp the scallop circle piece twice using Real Red Ink. Punch one out using the Scallop Circle Punch. For the second one, using the 1-1/4" punch, punch out only the center part.
Using a scrap of Garden Green cardstock, punch a circle with the 1-3/8" circle punch.
Layer the 1-1/4" piece onto the 1-3/8" piece with Snail adhesive. Punch a hole in the center and insert a gold or silver brad or a Rhinestone brad. Attach that piece to the scalloped circle with 3 Dimensionals. Attach that piece to the center of the 8-1/2" x 1" handle. You can lay this handle over the baked loaf of bread.
Wrap an 18-1/2" piece of Real Red 3/4" Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon around the finished loaf box, placing Snail adhesive every 3"-4". Secure at the overlap with Red Sticky Tape.
Final embellishment: Using a Chocolate Chip classic ink pad, stamp the "From our house to yours" image on Real Red and Very Vanilla cardstocks. Punch the Real Red image out with the Wide Oval Punch and the Very Vanilla piece with the Small Oval punch. Color in the center heart of the the Very Vanilla piece with the small tip of a Real Red Marker. Attach to Red Red cardstock with 2 Dimensionals. Attach to the ribbon with Snail adhesive or Sticky Tape.
Make several at one time to share with friends or neighbors or co-workers. They really are quick to make and would bring a smile from any recipient.
The two don't go together! I tried to share our Stamp Club projects yesterday but was busy caring for visiting family who got the stomach flu--until I got it. Started with 1 year old Landen before he got to our house. Mommy figured it was just him so he, his siblings and mommy, drove 2 hours to our house. Then 3 year old Nora had her turn. Then 5 year old Austin. Then their Mommy, my daughter. And finally me. Then hubby around 1 a.m. It was a mindless, yucky day. And now naps and rests are the only way to survive today. I really miss sending my posts but just can't do it right now. I should be back with ideas on Saturday. I am going to bake pies today though.
We should all be ready to go by Thanksgiving though. I hope. Wash your hands frequently! :)
My son Jason gave me a Dicken's snowglobe in 1988 which I have cherished ever since. I'm a Dicken's collector of a sort and this then 17-year-old boy picked up on it. A few years ago, when I removed it from its storage box it was dry! But I put it out on holiday display anyway. Next year, same thing. I whined and moaned to myself, put it out, put it away and then brought it out in the same dry condition the following year. Well, last year, I just left it out, determined to send it off to a snow-globe hospital. Someone recommended that we could fix it ourselves and that's exactly what my husband, Russ, has been working on for the last few months. Carefully. Yesterday he was to the point of being able to replace the snow and refill the globe.
How is this Stampin' Up! related? We put about 1/4 teaspoon each of 3 Stampin' Up! Glitters: Chunky Essentials White, Dazzling Diamonds, and Iridescent Ice (which I don't see in the catalog) into the distilled water that was going into the globe.
How cool is that!? It's even clearer and sparkly-er in real life, but I didn't want to show my kitchen in the background so we put a white envelope behind. I'm thrilled and will be so happy to display my Dicken's scene, complete with snow and glitter this year.
Do you have an out-of-the-box use for a Stampin' Up! product? If so, let us all know. Send me an email, with photo if applicable, and I'll post it here for all to see.
Do you have problems when trying to tie a bow? As I was tying the bow on the ornament yesterday I thought, hmmmmmm, I wonder if crafters will have problems with their bows. So I'm here to help you.
Take a length of your ribbon, hold it with both hands, and create 'bunny ears' over your index fingers.
Tie them in a 'knot', left side over the right side.
Notice that your tails are on the upper portion, sort of up in the air once you pull the knot tight. My thumbs and finger are holding the 'bunny ear' bows.
So, pull the bow apart, turn your ornament (or box) upside down and start over again. It will feel strange but just go with it. See the ornament below? The bow is "upside down".
So this time, place the hanger of the ornament toward your belly (or hands) and follow the same steps as above.
The tails of your bow will now be hanging down where you want them rather than flying up in the air above. Remember, you're looking at the photo below upside down, with the top of the ornament nearest my thumb.
Is this better? I rotated the photo.
All you need to do now is trim the ends of the bow and you're ready to go. We'll be using this ornament, and a few others, in my Stamp Club meeting on Monday. I'll share photos on Tuesday.
Tomorrow I'll be showing you a Fancy Favor open ended box made the with Exclusive Stampin' Up! die of the same name. It's a result of my free play and create time I earned today. See you then.
I love this box! I saw versions of it on two blogs Friday and knew I had to try it and then share it.
To create this sparkly, almost glass-like box you'll need the Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Fancy Favor Bigz XL die (p. 200, 115965, $39.95), Extended Cutting Pads (p. 194, 113478, $19.95), Stampin' Up!'s Thick Window Sheets (p. 158, 114324, $6.95), SU! Exclusive Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (p. 195, 115963, $7.95), a personal paper cutter, Sticky Strip and some ribbon, in this case, 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Real Red ribbon (p. 183, 115608, $8.95/10 yds)
Cut a 12" x 12" Thick Window Sheet in half, to 6" x 12". Then run your cut piece through the Big Shot again, this time using the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and the Multi-Purpose Platform. You'll need to run your die cut window sheet through twice, once from each end. In order to allow the pattern to emboss the entire window sheet you'll have to cut about 1/2" from the side flap beforehand. Don't worry, you'll still have enough flap to secure your finished box.
Firmly press all of the scored lines. Folding the box:
Fold the corners to form the box
Fold the gussets in the opposite direction to form the little side gussets
Apply Sticky Strip to that flap you trimmed before running the Window Sheet through the Big Shot with the embossing folder.
Fold box into shape and secure that Sticky Strip flap
Fold the bottom rectangle shapes in towards the center
Apply Sticky Strip to the angled sides of the angular flaps. Also apply Sticky Strip to the horizontal edge of one of those angular flaps. Fold it last, on top of the other 3 pieces.
Secure Sticky Strip with a bone folder.
Tie a ribbon or secure a piece of Designer Series Paper around the middle. Add candy or whatever else you come up with, and present your embellished Fancy Favor box to a neighbor, friend or co-worker or just set out as part of your holiday décor. I think it is just a stunning presentation!
Tomorrow? We'll all be surprise! I hope to see you then. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
After several weeks of class preparations and a 3-day v.i.p. house guest, I got to look at some other blogs today plus p-l-a-y. I saw an ornament while surfing around which reminded me of ornaments I made over 5 years ago. I still had a few undecorated ones in one of my craft drawers which I pulled out for today's play. You can find these ornaments at Joann's, Michaels, or other craft oriented stores or departments.
Then you need a Stampin' Up! reinker, any color, (I used Rose Red), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and Whisper White Satin ribbon. A small spoon wouldn't hurt too.
Gently squeeze about 15 drops of reinker into the ornament and roll around to totally cover the inside. It's not a speedy process and I couldn't find any way to speed it up. I did start with 10 drops and concluded that 15 was "the proper amount", at least for an ornament that's 2-1/2" (6.5 cm) in diameter. You don't want to put in too many drops because you'll just have to drip that excess into a paper towel before adding the Dazzling Diamonds glitter.
Here's my ornament, totally covered inside with Rose Red reinker.
The next step is to spoon in about 1 teaspoon of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and roll it around the inside of the ornament. I used a tiny ice-cream-sampler spoon: save everything you think might be useful later.
Tie a piece of ribbon, in this case, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, through the hanger top of the ornament. I used a Rub-On from the Word Flurries (sorry, retired) set, to decorate the outside. I'm ordering some Icicle Rub-Ons (116804, $10.95, Holiday Mini Catalog) later today!
The photo above is with flash, the one below, without flash. I couldn't decide which one showed the glitter's best side. :)
I hope you go out, get some glass ornaments, and make a rainbow of your own glittered ornaments. You could use alphabet letters to make a special ornament for a special person. Or other rub-ons that you like. Or leave your ornament/s perfectly plain. They're beautiful---and even more beautiful in person.
