Rubber Room Stampin'

"MAGAZINE" FILES DOWNSIZED INTO "CARD FILES"

I belong to several stamping email lists and one cute idea that's been shared lately has been a magazine file holder which has been downsized into a card holder.  Well, I saw the instant place for that in my stamp area or on my desk.  I decided I wanted to make some of them!  After I figured out just how to do it of course.

Here is my first attempt:

And then the whole bunch of them that I made for my Stamp Club members:

And, a close up of the ones with the cards---those are mine and hold the cards I've prepared for the upcoming month's birthdays and other occasions.

I hope you'd like to try this out.  They ARE easy to make.  Just proceed slowly on the first one and then let the assembly line begin if you'd like to make more!

What you'll need:

12" x 12" cardstock, trimmed down to 11" x 12"

Designer Series Paper to coordinate with the 12" x 12" CS

Personal Paper Cutter with both cutting and scoring blades

How to do it:

Along the 11" side:  score at 4-1/2" and 6-1/2".  This will create a 2" spine and 2 4-1/2" sides

Along the 12" side:  score at 6" and 10-1/2"

Here's what your scored and cut 11" x 12" CS will look like.  I'll explain the diagonal cut in a minute.

 

Here are a few 'files' scored, cut, and loosely put into shape before securing with adhesive:

 

The next step is to adhere the side pieces creating the supportive base.

I wish the quality of this picture was better.  AND I wish I could create arrows for pointers.  (Someday I'll learn how to actually use my PhotoShop Elements application!).  But, on the 'flaps' on the left and right sides of the file, place SNAIL adhesive along the outside edge and the cut edges, left and right.  Those 'seams' must be closed tightly or you'll just be seeing a gap where the edges fold over.

Place the sides of the file into their finished position, holding each side close to the base you just created.  Make a small tick with a pencil where the front of the side meets the base.  Then make a pencil tick 1/2" from the corner, on the side, where it meets the spine.

 

In the picture above, the tick marks should be at the lower right corner, just above the fold line and the upper left corner, 1/2" from the edge.  You can't see the 2" spine portion (on the left).

Pull out the side portions and cut a triangle piece out, from tick mark to tick mark, creating the side of the card file.  I marked and cut this one before I glued the base.  Photo below:

 

Here's that scored and cut photo that you saw above.  Hopefully it makes more sense now.

Fold cardstock into position, creating the base.

 

Photo below:  On the right you are seeing the BOTTOM OF THE BOX.  Adhere your SNAIL adhesive as shown.  Turn the magazine file over and tuck the sides to the inside walls.

And there you have your almost finished magazine file.  Cut a piece of Designer Series Paper, 1-3/4" x 12".  Make a fold/score line 1/2" from one end. Wrap it around the file base, making little crease marks where it will have to be folded to fit.  Each box is just a little bit different so you can't just score these fold marks and have them be right.  The DSP will not wrap all the way around the back of the file.  Cut another piece, approximately 2" x 2", a adhere it over the gap.

 

You could add a length of ribbon over the DSP if desired.  Use some Hodgepodge Hardware in the front on the box as a label with or without the ribbon trim.  

 

I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial and that you attempt to make your own card files.  Several of them sitting side by side on your desk top are just so cute---and efficient!  Now you'll know right where your ready-to-mail cards are located.

Contact me (blythe@stampinwithblythe.com) if you'd like to order any of the componenets to create your own card file OR go to my Stampin' Up! website to order online, any time of the day or night; just click on 'shop now'.

I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon!

COOKIES! Yum Yum!

I just received an email from one of 'my' Mi Wuk stampers.  There is a quarterly Friendship Tea at our local library (where I teach the 3rd Thursday of every month, including December), and this month's tea will include a cookie exchange.

Nancy got this idea out of the 2008 Fall-Winter 2008 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog (page 19, top right) and decided to put it to use for the cookie exchange.  Since she couldn't find any of the bags in the size and quantity she wanted, she made them out of parchment paper and used scallop scissors.  Then it was time to get out her new 1-3/4" inch circle punch for the Peace Love Joy stamp as well as a few others, which it fit perfectly!   With the festive Stampin' Up! (some current, some retired) Designer Series Papers and stamps she figured no one would care if there were cookies in the the little packages or not!

You might remember Nancy's other contribution to this blog.  She set the pace for our monthly treats, furnished by each month's hostess, by making treat bags and coordinating water bottles for our October Stampers' Club meeting.

I'll be back again today, or maybe tomorrow (again), with some pictures of the doll house I'm working on.  It's a bigger job than I thought it would be---but it's also lots of fun.  My final task is to 'hang framed photos and artwork' on the walls throughout.  It'll be cute!!!

Have a great day.........

WHAT WOULD YOU PUT INSIDE THIS SUPER LITTLE BOX?

My sister greeted me with this super little box in this morning's email.  The template was from Paper Pleasing, Julie Buhler...   http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/

It's taking forEVER to download/open up on my dial up connection so I'll hope to get the details for the location of the template before I hit the road this morning.  Oh the joys of dial up!  You certainly do learn patience---or at least how to successfully multi-task!

The box is for an office mate's birthday today and my sister, Janet, did not want it to be Christmas-y.  She definitely succeeded there.  I just love how elegant it is.

Janet used Brocade Background DSP (retired) , River Rock CS (retired) , Chocolate Chip CS, Coluzzle, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (retired), Linen String, Scallop Circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, So Many Scallops stamp set (retired SAB), SNAIL adhesive, and one dimensional.   I'm not sure I like it when my little sister shows me up!  :)

WHEW, the site just loaded so here is the little treat box tutorial link:

http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/treat-box-tutorial-.html#more

Enjoy!  If you make one, send a picture to me.  I'll post it for sharing too if you like.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YESTERDAY WENT?? DECEMBER 1ST WENT POOF!

I guess the Thanksgiving Weekend did me in more than I thought!  I have no clue where the 1st OR the 2nd of December went, except perhaps, they got lost in the preparations for this weekend's classes.  I'll be repeating my Bags, Tags, and Cards (with modifications) on Friday night, and then a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack on Saturday afternoon. 

I'm heading for Fresno CA tomorrow morning for a long overdue meeting/Christmas party with my stamping buddies.  I haven't seen them since JUNE!  For this annual event each participant brings a white tissue paper wrapped hostess gift, an item we would give a workshop hostess. Here's mine:

 

There is a little cello bag of Christmas tags inside.  Here are the bag-in-a-box components.

We made this Bag-in-a-Box at my Mi Wuk class a few weeks ago.  If you missed it, just click HERE.

And now I must be sure I have every little stamp pad, brad, ribbon and punch packed up for the weekend's adventure.  It'll be a bit of zig-zagging in Northern California....Mi Wuk Village, south to Fresno, north to Dublin, south to San Jose, north to San Francisco Airport and finally east to take me home again. 

Take care and I'll be back soon.

BAGS IN BOXES.........8 of them

Yesterday I held my Mi Wuk Village Bags, Tags & Cards class.  It was a ton of fun.  These ladies know how to chat and joke while they create.  And it was really nice to see that they put previous classes to work months after the class.  Nancy called to ask if she could bring some lemon cookies that were fresh out of the oven.  Well, of course she could.  But look what she brought:

Nancy didn't just bring a plate of cookies, she wrapped 3 of them them in a zip lock bag and then popped that into our medium cello bags!  Then she tied the bags with Hemp Twine (and eyelets) and used the Tart & Tangy stamp set to create a cute tag (Yoyo Yellow and Tempting Turquoise) .....complete with Crystal Effects on the lemon slices.  Good thing I took the photo before everyone got their cookies because they were g-o-n-e by the end of the afternoon.  I offered paper towels for munching them so they didn't get any 'greasies' on their stampin' fingers! 

I've been showing you some of the projects we did in the class throughout the week but I have to share the assortment of Bags in a Box which they loved.  If you scroll down to the 17th's blog entry, you'll see the entire 'how-to' photo tutorial so you can create one of these bags too.  They're really quite easy, but.......if you talk and giggle and eat yummy cookies, it does take a bit longer.

Our basic ingredients were Stampin' Up!'s  Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper, Little Felt Flurries and Build-a-Brads.  The class loved them all, especially getting to pick and play with the Felt Flurries and the Build-a-Brads.

Now it's time for you to go challenge yourself and make a Bag in a Box.  The finished result demands a huge smile!   Enjoy.........

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BAG IN A BOX ? CHECK THIS OUT !

I just love this whimsical gift bag.....that sits around a box.  I have to admit that I was intimidated by it when I first saw it.  Nahhhhh.  It's a piece of cake to make.  Just choose your Designer Series Paper and a coordinating cardstock and half of the work is done.  By the way, did you know that all of the Designer Series Paper in Stampin' Up!'s Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog has the coordinating cardstock listed right under the DSP name?  How convenient is that!?!?  Finally. :)

Here's what you'll need for this clever gift bag:

 

STAMP SET:  one with a small snowflake, such as Snow Burst, Snow Swirled, Merry & Bright or Punch Pals

CARDSTOCK:  Holiday Treasures DSP, Ruby Red CS (or DSP and coordinating color of your choice)

INK:  Baja Blue

ACCESSORIES: Bone Folder, Sticky Strip, Round Tab, Scallop Edge, 1/2" and 1/8" or 1/4" Circle Punches, Mini Glue Dots, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Build-a-Brads, Little Felt Flurries, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Personal Paper Cutter with cutting and scoring blades.

1  Believe it or not

2 These numbers are here

3 Just to allow me some 'empty' space

4 For formatting my instructions, below.

5 You see, I want them below the photo!

Cut a piece of Ruby Red cardstock 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" and score it 1" from each edge.

Turn CS on the diagonal, and score from each point to the intersection of the 1" score lines.

Crease your box on the 1" score lines and bring the corner scores in like this:

Use sticky strip to glue your box corners together.  After the 'points' are secured/glued, put a little piece alongside one of the points and secure it to the side of the box, making the inside all flat.

Cut Designer Series Paper to 5-1/2" x 11"

Add stick strip to one long side and one end of the background paper.

 

Peel off the bottom piece of sticky strip and lay your box along the bottom of the background paper, so it is even along the bottom.  I start my background paper about half way on the side of the box so the seam will be at the back of the bag at the end.

Continue to wrap the box up with the paper, keeping the bottom edges the same.
Pull off the side sticky strip and glue this after wrapping all the rest of the paper around the box.

Here's how it looks when your DSP is wrapped around the little box:

 

Now you need a strip of cardstock 11" x 1" and your scallop edge punch.  Starting in the center of the strip, make your first punch.  Then line up the punch, using the guide along the edges of the punch, and continue punching to the left and right, creating a scalloped strip.

Attach Sticky Strip along the long straight length of the scallop punched strip. Wrap the scalloped strip around the bottom of the bag.  I start it at the back of the bag so the seam is at the back.

Gather up your Sticky Tape, Round Tab and 1/4" or 1/8" circle punches, a ruler, and Bone Folder and contrasting cardstock, Ruby Red in our case.  Punch out 2 Round Tabs, place a rule along the center and score for your fold, using the Bone Folder.  Fold in half and punch through both layers (for the ribbon you will insert later).  Apply Sticky Tape to the outer most tab areas.  Position and adhere tabs to each side of your bag, one on the seam side, the other on the opposite side.

The Snow Flurries/Build-a-Brad embellishments are next.  I selected 2 of the smallest snowflakes from the Little Felt Flurries assortment.  Since the hole in the center of one of the Flurries was largers than an average brad, I decided to use the Build-a-Brad on both Flurrie snowflakes.

Stamp a small snowflake, using Baja Breeze Classic Ink, on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock.  Punch it out with the 1/2" circle punch.  Set aside.  Using the Build-a-Brad assortment of your choice, Antique Brass or Pewter, apply a small bit of Tombow adhesive to the 'inside/top' of your brad and set your stamped/punched snowflake onto the glue.  After it's secure, top the snowflake with the acrylic bubble, trying to avoid getting your fingers on the sticky side.  If there is no hole on your chosen snowflake, make a very small snip with your Paper Snips; then slide your brad 'legs' through and carefully bend the legs into position.  Attach 4-6 Mini Glue Dots to the legs of the brad and attach to the bag, having one hand (or whatever will fit--like a bone folder) inside the bag to apply pressure to the glue dots.

String a piece, about 15" long, of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, through the holes in the tabs and tie, securing the opening.  And voila, you are done.  Here's the finished bag!

 

I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial.  This is the first Bag in a Box I've made and it wasn't nearly as intimidating as I'd built it up to be.  It's really quite easy!

This Bag in a Box will be a part of my Bags, Tags & Cards classes which will be held in the next few weeks:  Wednesday, November 19th, in Mi Wuk Village, CA 1-4 p.m., and Friday, December 5th, in Dublin, CA, 7-10 p.m.  Class fee:  $30.   You can sign up and pay for the Dublin class right here if you like.  Just click the Paypal button below.

Mi Wuk attendees can pay for their class, this coming Wednesday, November 19th, via the Paypal button below if they wish.  Heck, try it out!

I look forward to spending time with you again very soon.......

A NEW LOOK FOR A GIFT CARD HOLDER -- Yikes! Please see 17th entry for the proper posting!!

When I saw this gift card holder on Mary Jo Price-Williams' blog, I thought "I just have to use that idea for my upcoming Bags, Tags & Cards class."  You can check hers out on her November 13, 2008 entry.  And here is my/our version:

 

You will need:

STAMP SETS:

CARDSTOCK:

INK:

ACCESSORIES:

 

ASDF

 

sdf

 

 

sdf

 

hjgfhf

 

ghjjb

SPOOKY SPIDER IS READY TO COME INTO YOUR HOME!

What?  You're arachnophobic?  Don't like spiders?  But this one is just sooooo cute!  He's really just a Décor Element designed to decorate a jar full of Hallowe'en candy.  Mine is currently stuffed with tissue paper*.   He comes in 3 sizes:

Baby Spooky Spider  4-5/8" x 4"  
Mama Spooky Spider   8-7/8" x 7-3/4"  (This is the one I used)
Papa Spooky Spider   14-15/16" x 13"

Those are definitely my names, not Stampin' Up!'s, but Spooky Spider does come in three sizes and in either black or white!

I was a little dismayed when I realized that my medium sized spider was a little large for my jar if I wanted the SPOOKY word above the spider.  What to do????  I trimmed the word away from the spider, split it in half and put SPO on one side of Mama Spider's legs and OKY on the other.  I purchased my jar from Target on-line but you might have an appropriate jar at home or find one at a local store or thrift shop.  My jar is 7-1/2" to the top of the jar and 9-1/2" with the lid on.

*I'm staying with my daughter right now, helping with the older (4 yr. and 21 months) grandkidlets while they get accustomed to their 4 day old son so:

(1) that's why there's no tempting candy in the jar and

(2) here is where I've been for the past several weeks.......away from my stamping fun and projects!

Mama Spider sure will sure be looking cute right before Hallowe'en though, with a jar full of colorful treats!

You can make your own SPOOKY SPIDER by calling or emailing me or by using the new online ordering option.  To order online, simply go to my Stampin' Up! website, click on the Shop Now tab near the top right, and follow the prompts.  Check out the flyer in the left column for details.

It's soooooo nice to be back and chatting with you all.  :)

HALLOWE'EN AND AUTUMN 'WARM ME UPS'

Even here in the mountains of northern California there is a taste of 'cooler' in the air.  Mornings and evening are beginning to be just a little more than 'crisp.  So what better to enjoy than a cup of hot chocolate or warm apple cider--or hot mulled wine? 

My friend and stampin' buddy, Kathy Chono-Herring (who blogs here) and I made this great little Grab-n-Go cup last fall.  I've recreated them for both Fall and Christmas stamping events.

It's a Dixie brand Grab-N-Go 12 oz. hot beverage cup (i.e. coffee in my house).  You can find them at your grocery store or Target.  They come in a pack of 14, complete with lids.

You have to sacrifice one cup to get a template for decorating your cup.  Add about 1/2 inch for the seam overlap for gluing.   Then, just lay the template on Halloween/Fall DSP (Designer Series Paper) of your choice, cut out and wrap around the cup and either 'snail' or 'sticky-strip' the seam.  If you have any extra on the bottom, tuck it under the cup.  It will stay.  (Those are my new verbs!)  From the center of this template or a duplicate one you make, cut out a narrower template about an inch from the top and about 3"-4" wide (or deep).  Trace onto DSP or cardstock.  This gives you the proper curve.  I corrugated this cardstock---if you do that be sure to cut it longer than 'just' around the cup so it will still wrap around after being corrugated.   You do loose some length when corrugating.  Add another layer of DSP for more decoration if desired.  Tie some grosgrain around the cup, top it with a tag and you're good to go.  If you have any questions, please ask!

I hope this little project gets your fall off to a good warmy start!

Tart & Tangy takes the Cake

I'm just loving so many of the sets from the Occasions 2008 Mini Catalog, and Tart & Tangy is right up at the top.  It gives off a huge dose of summer sunshine and smiles.  You can almost smell the fruity images!  Combine Tart & Tangy with the Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper, a little ribbon and some Crystal Effects and you've got a super card!

Using the Note Cards, p. 167, 107311, in the Spring-Summer 2008 Collection Catalog, we'll be making 1 boxed set of 10 cards (2 of each that you see in the photo) in my upcoming class in Santa Rosa, CA.

Ingredients: 

Stamp Set:  Tart & Tangy, Curvy Verses (not yet stamped---for outside greetings)

Cardstock: Note Cards, p. 167 (Spring-Summer 2008 Collection, 20 5-1/2" x 3" note cards with envelopes), Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper (Occasions 2008 Mini Catalog)

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Real Red--markers or stampin' pads

Accessories:  Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Crystal Effects, Scallop Circle Punch, Slit Punch (to make scallops on strawberry card), Dimensionals

This class can also be purchased as a KIT TO GO for $42.  Please add $8 if you'd like a Snail adhesive added to you purchase ($5.75 for a refill only).

I'm working on a Paypal link for purchasing this kit (technologically challenged sometimes).  In the meantime, please send an email to blythe@stampinwithblythe.com and I will response quickly with an invoice with payment information.