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For our final library stampin' afternoon at our Mi Wuk Little Library in the Woods, for 2011, I wanted to have some fun. Well, we always have fun but...........I wanted to do something different. And it was FUN FOR ME to see how much I challenged my stampers with this little project. We had a lot of laughs!!!!!
We made a lovely, non-Christmas, all-purpose type card which I'll share tomorrow, and a little Christmas ornament: a star. I've seen several versions of this ornament and I adapted several to come up with this version.
You will need
Five (5) 4" x 4" squares of Designer Series Paper, suggested that they all be the same design.
Two (2) 2" x 2" squares of coordinating card stock.
20" of coordinating ribbon
coordinating button
Red Sticky Tape
Click HERE to view my quick and easy tutorial. I've made 4 of these star ornaments now, and I have to tell you, each one takes less than half an hour. Adhering the Sticky Tape takes the longest. :)
I'll see you tomorrow with the card we made. Again, it's a great any purpose card.
Don't forget about the Clearance Blitz going on right now. Clearance items need to be ordered online! Ask me if you have questions about how to do that.
AS PROMISED, here are the various Shadow Boxes the gals made last Thursday evening at Jen's Holiday Party. All were made with the focal feature being the Merry Trees Décor Element, size small, $3.95, 121643, p. 229, Stampin' Up!'s Idea Book & Catalog. I got the shadow boxes, 8" x 8" and 10" x 10" square, black or white, from Joann's. Yes, I wiped out the supply they had on hand last Sunday.
Andrea and I had created two nice looking samples the night before so the gals would have a clue where or how they might get started on their own shadow boxes. Andrea's on the left is 10" x 10" square and mine, the one on the right, is 8" x 8".
Below is a prototype we just laid out on the work table:
And below again is another we just laid out on the work table:
And now for the projects of the evening. If I know for sure who made a certain shadow box I'll label it.
Above: I'm pretty sure this is Carol's with the addition of some beautiful Northern Frost Sizzlit Decorative Strip snowflakes made with Silver Glimmer Paper and the current Holly Berry Bouquet DSP, 10" x 10".
Above: Melissa, laying out her project, retired Designer Series Paper.
Above: Melissa and her mom, Peggy, are real pleased! 10" x 10"
I think this is Peggy's. Love her use of the retired DSP. :) 8" x 8"
Amy created this shadow box going in a totally different direction from the others. She used bits from the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit, 124007, p. 26, Holiday Mini Catalog. 8" x 8"
This is a 10" x 10" framed shadow box. Who??? Andrea might have made this one for Stacey who was out sick. She sure missed some fun!
This is Christine's 8" x 8" shadow box, also using last year's Designer Series Paper. She has excellent taste! :)
This is Jen's 10" x 10" interpretation of Merry Trees.
Haven't these been FUN!?
All you need is some Designer Series Paper, a few ribbons and embellishments, like the Glimmer Papers in Red or Silver, and your Décor Element of choice. It's a pretty quick and easy project.
Last Thursday night I was privileged to conduct a fabulous Holiday Fun Class in Dublin at Jen's home. Jen and her 6 guests had a great time creating some gift tags (as a warm up), a gift box (with a treat from me) and finally, a shadow boxed Merry Christmas Décor Elements gift for themselves or a loved one.
We started off with these two tags created using Stampin' Up! Two Tags Die and the Big Shot:
STOCKING TAGS:
SUPPLIES USED:
STAMP SETS: Winter Post, Tiny Tags
CARD STOCK: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Inside is the "to/from" on the top and Merry Christmas on the lower half.
SUPPLIES USED:
STAMP SETS: Many Merry Messages, Winter Post, Pennant Parade
CARD STOCK: Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
INK: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Two Tags Die, Punches: Petite Pennants Builder, Cupcake Builder, Butterfly, Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon
Details for how to create the angel tag can be found here. We made them in November at my cousin's Christy's Christmas Fun party.
KRAFT GIFT BOXES from the Holiday Mini:
L >> R, back row: Melissa, Carol, Carol's daughter's Jen and Amy; Jen was also making another set of projects for her sister Stacey who got a 'bug' and couldn't come.
L >> R, front row: Melissa's Mom, Peggy, my daughter Andrea and neighbor Christine
I provided each of the gals with a Kraft Gift Box filled with 4 pieces of 2-1/4" x 3-1/4"Holly Berry Bouquest Designer Series Paper and 1 piece of 3-1/4" square DSP, (each box had a different pattern inside), and a strip of Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric, the brown print---with the option to use either of the other fabric prints if they so chose.
This was a really easy project: sponge all edges of all 5 pieces with Chocolate Chip Ink and a Stamping Sponge wedge. Then attach all five pieces to the box.
I had baked (not real successfully) a batch of Shortbread Cookies using the Sweet Press Cookie Press and the snowflake image. I'm going to try the Sugar Cookie recipe next time.
I thought it would add color to use some green sugar sprinkles that I had on hand. Bad idea. Not recommended. So I switched to plain white sugar before pressing the cookies. I had already rolled the balls in the green sugar.
Does anyone want to tell my son-in-law that his wife would LOVE to have a new oven for Christmas!? Not only is theirs quite dirty, it bakes quite unevenly. :)
Anyway, I wrapped several up in plastic wrap since I forgot my cello bags, and handed one to each guest to place in their Gift Box. Then the Gift Boxes were tied with the fabric ribbon for a vintage look. We didn't make the tag because I knew we'd need the remaining time to create the Shadow Boxes.
I'll be back tomorrow with our shadow boxes using the Décor Elements (Merry Trees), Designer Series Papers and various embellishments. It was so much fun watching each person's box develop!
YES, this is truly a five minute project AFTER you locate an 8" x 8" glass brick. From research on line and on foot, you can find them at Hobby Lobby (non-existant in my area). I did not find any at Michaels or Joanns. I got mine at Sonora Tile & Supply, in Sonora CA. The pieces I was able to purchase were close out 'bits' from last year so I got them at quite a nice price, $4-$7 per piece.
The Décor Element I used can be found on page 229 of Stampin' Up!'s 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog. 114708, Jingle All the Way (m), $9.95. It also comes in a smaller size, 114707 for $3.50.
I placed it on our piano after this photo with a clear glass holder and votive candle behind. Very soft, "glow-y" and pretty.
Here's a quick 'how-to' for using a Décor Element. This one is retired but they all work the same way!
1- Clean the glass thoroughly, removing all 'grease' from your fingers.
2- Burnish your image with a Décor Elements Applicator, 114285, $1.95
3- Gently peel back the heavier grid-printed layer. Be sure you leave all of the image on the thinner paper.
4- Position the exposed image carefully on the glass (or wall or wherever you are placing it).
5- Carefully peel off this final thin layer of paper, ensuring that all image pieces remain on the glass. Gently burnish these pieces again, using applicator or even your fingernail.
Are you ready now to go try a few? These are so simple, quick and classy I think! Click here to be directed to my Stampin' Up! Store to purchase your Décor Elements. Click on Home Décor and then Vinyl Art. And then be sure to share what you've created with me so I can share it with other readers. See yourself published!!!
AND HOPEFULLY MY STAMPIN' LIFE WILL RETURN TO NORMAL!
I am missing posting to you all but it's so far out of my control right now that it's just crazy!
I had a great (!!!!) stamp camp/party in Dublin (CA) last night, took lots of photos and apparently left the download cord for my camera at home. ARGH. I can't share of them this morning.
We made a few Christmas tags--cute of course plus a Kraft Gift Box (filled, after decorating with a few Sweet Press Cookie Pressed cookies) and then, delightful -- wait till you see them -- framed Merry Trees (black, small, 121643) Décor Elements complete with Designer Series Papers, ribbons, retired sparkly "ribbons" from last year, red and silver Glimmer Paper snowflakes.......... Each crafter was so creative.
I'll be back tomorrow, Saturday, with pix and more info. OH-----the frames we used were black OR white, 8" x 8" or 10" x 10". We wanted to go for the 8" x 8" black but I bought all of them that Joann's had and had to expand to the white ones and the 10" x 10". No problem for these gals.
Here are the prototypes that my daughter, Andrea, and I put together a few nights ago:
This one is a 10" x 10" frame.
And this is an 8" x 8" frame. I couldn't crop too closely because the photo is from my iPhone and not that clear when closely cropped.
You'll see improvements in this one tomorrow when I can download photos from my other camera. Plus the lighting will be better. Nothing like taking a photo into a glass frame with either overhead lights, sunlight, or flash creating an unwanted glare.
I truly look forward too seeing you all tomorrow---much later in the day but that's the way it has to be.
Remember not to click on my shopping basket if you want to go to my online store. You might want to order yourself some Décor Elements!!! Instead, click HERE.
This is truly that crazy time of the year. If you follow me on FB you'll know we've been having quite a time getting a wheelchair accessible van shipped from Pennsylvania to California. My brother has finally (and very happily) flown off to PA to drive it home. The company we hired (I'll tell you privately who they are so you don't use them) was totally incompetent and gobbled up many of my hours in wasted time.
In the meantime, I have spent very little time in my stampin' studio. Forgot to mention---we were without power for 4 days AND that stampin' studio has been without power. Since the temps have been in the 30s I've not gone out there. Too darned cold. Seeing my breath while trying to stamp isn't my idea of pleasure! :) This morning my little heater is just racing away, trying to warm up the room.
The power outage was precipitated by a very strong wind storm that hit much of California. This is a neighbor's cabin:
Our dentist's office IS located 4 miles 'down the hill' in Twain Harte. A tree fell right through the center of their building---during business hours at 10.30 in the morning. They'll be setting up shop in temporary buildings in the parking area for the next 6 months or so. Would you believe no one was injured or even touched by this falling tree!? A-m-a-z-i-n-g!
No cell service in the community.
Trying to get a deadbeat company to transport a van cross country.
No power. High winds.
Community obligations.
These are events that have thrown me so far off balance and off schedule. Hopefully I'll get caught up in the next few days. Thanks for hanging in there with me.
Here's a little My Digital Studio treat. This was another project that was just simple and easy to do. MS Word fought me all the way so I find finagled a work-around using iWork for the Mac. Although 'Pages' doesn't make labels, they do make business cards that do fit 2" x 4" 10-to-a-page Avery labels. Mission accomplished for tonight's Fire Fighters Appreciation Dinner being held at Kelly's Kitchen in Sugar Pine.
I have to be honest and tell you I'm not sure right now where I got the hanging ornaments from. But, I isolated them, saved them as a jpg, saved them in a file and then attached them as a picture/photo to each business card on a business card template. Then I added the names. It was not quite quick and easy because of all the individual inserting of each photo -- I had to do 71. But, it worked and I was able to finish the name tags and print them out on Avery Labels 5163. And tonight's the dinner. Whew! Next comes the excitement of the guests' dinner selections: beef, chicken or tuna.
While preparing projects and samples for this holiday season, I've been inspired (it was really time) to use some of the items I'd purchased from Stampin' Up!'s Décor Elements catalog. Unfortunately most of the items in that catalog are now retired but that doesn't mean they can't be used!
When the new JoAnn's store opened in Sonora CA, of course I went to check it out. We haven't had a craft store in our area for at least 15 years! I was looking specifically for items to put my décor elements on. This simple, smooth vase was one of my answers. Using Candy Cane Christmas (red), I cut the cardinals away from the rest of the large sheet of other elements: such as mittens, trees, and candy canes.
And then on Thanksgiving day, my cousin presented me with a lovely bouquet of roses! This vase was just crying out for the flowers. I'm thrilled to be able to put it to use.
And now it's your turn. Do you have any strong carboard tubes filled with Décor Elements hiding in your drawer or closet? Bring 'em out! Let them see the light of day and get creative. I'll have a few more to share throughout the next month.
The only thing you need to do in preparation is be sure the surface to which you're attaching your element is clean. Use a little glass cleaner or Basic H window and class strength cleaner, wipe it dry and you're ready to apply. And then sit back and enjoy your creativity. Don't tell anyone how simple it was!
You can now find Décor Elements on pages 227-234 of Stampin' Up!'s 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. Check them out. Of course I can help you order yours and then give you guidance in using them. Remember, whatever you purchase from me, comes with 'me' as a teacher and guide to ensure that you use your purchase.
I think the new tradition at my daughter's home might be the annual laying of this lovely table runner created by 4 year old Nora in her pre-school class this fall.
Those are her little hands, enhanced with color. I hope they keep this little table runner in the family until Nora's old enough to be setting her own table, whether it be a dinner table, coffee table, or night table. I'm such a schmaltz!
I WISH YOU ALL A
WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING
AND HOPE IT IS SPENT IN THE WAY THAT MEANS THE MOST TO YOU.
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Two Tags Bigz Die, Punches: Butterfly, 3/4" Circle, Petite Pennants Builder, Cupcake Builder; 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Here are a few other renditions of the Angel Tag:
If you click on the image you'll be able to really see the glitter detailing on the tag edges.
Cute little angle for her angel isn't it?
Do YOU have the BIG SHOT or the Two Tags Bigz Die? It's a really convenient combination of tools. I can help you get yours---just email me or click on the shopping cart above right and place your own order.
Have you ever been something like "fear-struck" before you set off to try something new to you? Well I sure have and this past weekend I broke that pattern. Mind you, the product I used was several years old -- and I had three of them -- but you can definitely get a good basic idea. I'll also have several more (some are even current) to share in the coming weeks.
I still have to rough up, or darken, the frame a bit but this was my major step #1. And it's so much more striking in real life.
The original Season of Thanks looked like this:
Because I had purchased a 10" x 10" frame at the new JoAnn Craft Store in Sonora, CA (opened 11-11-11), thinking my words would fit inside, I had to adapt the Décor Element by eliminating the second and third "season of" words and then carefully scrunching the other words closer together.
Realizing I could cut the elements apart gave me a great sense of power!!!
I used a sheet of Grid Paper behind the glass for positioning.
Burnish the letters with the Applicator and then gently and slowly peel the heavier 'grid' layer from the lighter weight layer, ensuring that the letters remain on the lighter weight paper.
Roll your thumb along the corner to separate the two layers and then carefully pull them apart ensuring that the letters stay on the non-grid sheet of paper.
And here are the words positioned on the glass before putting the decoration in place.
SUPPLIES:
Season of Thanks, Chocolate, Small Décor Element (retired!!!)
Spice Cake Designer Series Paper
Big Shot Die Cut Machine
Leaves #2 die
Stamping Sponge
Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pad
10" x 10" square Shadow Box Frame (mine came from JoAnn Fabric & Craft Stores)
I've been trying to actually post this for 3 days but wouldn't until I could proof-read it. And first came home necessities like chasing down hopital beds, a Dynavox, a van with a wheelchair lift and more. As I said about a month ago, my life and schedule will not be my own in the coming months. Not complaining............just saying.
Now it's your turn to get some creativity going with some Décor Elements. They're really fun! Send me an email or leave a comment if you have needs (like an order) or questions.
