Jul 10, 2009 | Circle Scissor Plus, Designer Series Paper, Great Friend, In Colors, Occasions Mini 2009, Rock 'n Roll, Stamps, SU Ribbon, Techniques |
I made this cute box the other day. The pattern and idea came from an online class that I am taking called Simply Babies by Heather Summers who is a demonstrator in Canada. While her projects are all baby related and I don’t really need baby projects her work is so great and most things can be adapted to anything you want. I haven’t been able to create all the projects – there is a new one each day – but I have made a few.
This one is a cupcake box that I made for my friend Gina who had a birthday while I was away on vacation. Gina likes bright colors so I thought the new Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper would be just perfect for her. I used three of the new In-Colors – Melon Mambo (the pink color), Crushed Curry (the yellow color), and Rich Razzleberry (the purple color). The stamp set is the Great Friend stamp set – one of my favorites as you can tell because I am using it a lot. It debuted in the Occasions mini catalog. The butterfly is done with the Rock ‘n’ Roll technique because I wanted it to kind of look like the paper which has the Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry colors blending together.
To do the Rock ‘n Roll technique follow these easy steps:
- Choose two colors of ink that will work together – one lighter than the other. In this case mine are Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry – where Melon Mambo is the lighter color.
- Tap your solid image stamp into the light-colored ink – Melon Mambo.
- Press the edges of the stamp in a rolling motion on the darker ink pad – Rich Razzleberry, being careful not to ink the center of the stamp.
This gives the lighter Melon Mambo color in the center of the butterfly and the Rich Razzleberry around the edges. I cut out the butterfly and added cross-stitch thread to the center to create a body and antenna for the butterfly. The tag is made using one of the large sized metal edge tags. The 1-3/4″ circle punch is the perfect circle to fit on the tag – I used Crushed Curry and stamped “for you” in Rich Razzleberry ink. The butterfly is attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals to give it a 3-D effect.
I created my lid a bit differently than Heather made her orignal design – I changed two things. First before assembling the lid I used the Scallop Edge punch on each edge to create the lid border. Make sure to trim the tabs on so that they can be attached inside without seeing them behind the scallops. Also before assemble I punched a slit using the Horizontal slot punch on two sides of the box – these are in the edge corner where the side fold down. I made them wide enough to slide my ribbon through. This allowed me to tie the ribbon through the lid of the box and it doesn’t have to be untied to remove the lid. I am so bad at tying bows once I “get it” I don’t want to undo it.
The inside of the box has an insert with a circle cut out of the center – used the Circle Scissor Plus – that holds the cupcake in place so it doesn’t slide around. The picture doesn’t actually have the cupcake inside – just the liner to show you. I was able to add the cupcake with a candle in it – the box was tall enough for that.
I really loved how it all turned out and think this would be a cute little birthday present to give someone that maybe you wouldn’t normally buy a gift for but want to acknowledge them with a special surprise!
I took Gina her cupcake yesterday afternoon and she was surprised to find it inside when she opened the box. We lit the candle and she made a wish – but to her surprise (and actually to mine) – the candle re-lit! My boys like to use the trick candles and when I grabbed one it never crossed my mind that it would be one of those. I just picked one with pink colored stripes – which of course are the leftovers since I have boys we don’t usually use the pink candles unless they make a cake for me.
Anyway – hope you day is full of fun and surprises!
Jul 7, 2009 | Circle Circus, Circle Scissor Plus, Scrapbook Pages |
Gosh – I’m feeling so behind and like I can’t catch up….
I have the July Wow Scrapbook Kit posted now – go on over to the blog to check out all the details – wowscrapbookkits.wordpress.com – here is a sneak peek of the pages for this month:
My favorite is the Circle Circus summer layout – some of the pictures from our beach trip should fit perfectly on there. The Dad layout uses the Totally Tool set and we have lots of pictures of home projects that could work on this layout – I’ll have to see what I can find. I have tons of pictures that I have never scrapped and I have become a totally random scrapper. Lately I have been creating the pages first and then remember an event or pictures that I might have that will go on it. Other times I have the pictures and create a page to go with them – but that is not normally what I do. I want to spend alot more time on my personal scrapbooking. I have several vacation albums I want to complete and then one big goal for this year is to complete an album for Kyle before he graduates high school next spring! I am also working on a year in review album that Wendy has created – we get together once a quarter and make about a double page layout for each of three months. I have to finish my March, April and May pages now.
The day is quickly getting away from me – AGAIN! How does that always happen? I want to go create in my craft room with my new stuff so I have more to share with you and I need to finalize my plans for all of my convention swaps and classes for this month. I’m expecting the rest of my new catalog stuff (what I ordered on the 1st) to come tomorrow!! I can’t wait!
Happy Stampin’ and Scrappin’!!
Jun 10, 2009 | Big Shot, Circle Scissor Plus, Designer Series Paper, Heartfelt Thanks, Retired List, Stamps, SU Ribbon |
So yesterday I tried to accomplish several different things at one time – I wanted to create a card for the Stamping 411 challenge, I wanted to create a card (actually 3 cards) for the Late Night Stampers challenge and I wanted to start on my card designs for my class later this month using the Last Chance stamp sets that I have and that we will be using in my Stamp-a-Stack class.
The Late Night Stampers challenge was to use one of the retiring stamp sets and create cards for three different 
occasons using the same stamp set. I decided to use Heartfelt Thanks as my main stamp set but ended up using Hugs & Wishes with it – it is also retiring. Two of the three cards use the sketch from the Stamping 411 challenge.
And one of the three cards will be in my Stamp-a-Stack class later this month.
The inspiration for this card came from my friend Michele who is very talented and also a demonstrator. She loves sponging (I do too) and using the white gel pen. This card uses both the Heartfelt Thanks and Hugs & Wishes stamp sets. Colors are Kraft, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. The Circle Scissor Plus and the Big Shot were used in this card too.
The second card was based on the Stamping 411 sketch.
Again using the Heartfelt Thanks and Hugs & Wishes stamp sets. I used the Sweet Always Designer Series Paper and the colors include Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip and Regal Rose. The base of the card is Kraft since I had that left from the other card. The ribbon is wrapped all the way around and I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch a small slit at the fold of the card. 
This creates a hole that you can feed the ribbon through to wrap around the front of the card. I then punch a hole with my paper piercer where I wanted the brad to go and put the ribbon inbetween the two prongs of the Rhinestone brad before putting it through the hole. I pulled the ribbon tight and then flattened out the brad prongs on the back. It actually worked out that on the inside of my card the prongs were hidden by the ribbon.
And then the third card for the Late Night Stampers Challenge also uses the Stamping 411 sketch. This time I used the Sweet Always Designer Series paper as the actual focal point of the card – the piece with the Always bird on it. I used Heartfelt Thanks for part of the greeting and the THANKS comes from the Chit Chat Rub-Ons. 
To create my little accent on the Chocolate Chip strip I took a piece of the Regal Rose wide Grosgrain ribbon and frayed several inches of it. Then took the frayed portion and tied it around one of the little paper clips from the clips assortment.
Three different cards and I like all three. The third card you could basically create the same idea using the Always stamp set – Stamp the bird image in VersaMark ink on some Designer Series Paper and clear emboss it – or stamp it in a the ink that is slightly darker than the paper you are working with. Lots of possibilities. The Sweet Always paper happens to have the bird image on one of the patterns so I used that.
That’s what I have to share with you today. Don’t forget that Heartfelt Thanks, Hugs & Wishes and the Sweet Always Designer Paper are all retiring so order today by visiting my website – www.monika.stampinup.net – and click the SHOP NOW button or contact me by email or phone and I’ll place the order for you.
Have a creative day!
May 14, 2009 | Blog Tour, Circle Scissor Plus, Demonstrator, Designer Series Paper, Wanted |
Remember the card from the Stamper’s Club meeting that I posted the other night. As I was looking at it and thinking about the Late Night Stampers Challenge it got my gears turning that the card we made with the flowers could easily be turned into a masculine card. So this morning that was what I did.
I used the same basic card design – changed the colors and the stamp set that I used.
The colors came from the Designer Paper I used which is called Manchester. It has Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Kraft and Very Vanilla. I used imaged from the Wanted stamp set and various circle punches and the Circle Scissor to cut my larger circles. I added a variety of brads to the center like I did on the flower card. One of the Jumbo Silver brads I added a small image stamped on Vanilla card stock. I also added one of the small star brads. The greeting is a rub-on from the Chit Chat rub-on collection. That one set of rub-ons has over 200 different greetings for almost any occasion – I bought one set and have used for several classes and card ideas and still have tons left. It will go a long way!
Don’t forget this month Stampin’ Up! is having a special on the Designer Paper – buy three packs and get a fourth pack free. It also includes the 12″ x12″ textured card stock that comes in the color family packs. And you can mix and match in any combination. Remember that the In-Colors will be retiring in June and if you have any Designer Paper with an In-Color that you love it will also be retired in June so stock up now before they are gone.
Two other Stampin’ Up! specials include the new Jumble Alphanet set for 20% off. This stamp set will be available in the new catalog beginning July 1st. But for this month only you can order it as a sneak peek and get it at 20% off. And my favorite special is sign up as a Demonstrator for only $75! I would jump on that in a heart beat if I wasn’t already a demonstrator. Stampin’ Up! has put together a mini starter kit and it contains more than $75 worth of product (and you can switch out the stamp sets and colors to what you want) PLUS you get all the business supplies from the regular starter kit that’s another $60. This is really an awesome deal. You can sign up directly on my website – www.monika.stampinup.net. I would love to have you as part of my Stampin’ Up! team. Contact me today with any questions you have.
My next post will be for the BLOG TOUR that will run for two days – May 15th and May 16th. I have some great projects to share using the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set. At the end of my Blog Tour post you will get directed to the next stop on the tour. Just follow the link to each stop and you will travel around the country seeing lots of great ideas. I hope you will join me.
Have a great Stampin’ Day!
May 10, 2009 | Big Shot, Circle Scissor Plus, class, Pocket Silhouettes |
I hope you are having a wonderful Mother’s Day!
I wanted to share the projects from the Mini Mother’s Day class I had last week. Everyone had a great time and said I needed to add more last minute classes! I just knew I hadn’t had a class with anything Mother’s Day, not that you couldn’t use almost anything we make as a Mother’s Day card and gift, but I wanted to do something specific for Mother’s Day. NOTE: to my mom – don’t read or look any further until I see you or it won’t be a surprise.
I saw the book mark idea last year at convention – that was at the end of July and have wanted to make them for a class ever since then. I ordered the hardware pieces and have just been waiting for the right class to add the book mark too. I finally just decided to do the book mark for Mother’s Day and build a class around it instead. So I announced the class with plans to make the book mark, a Mother’s Day card – I have been seeing the flower pot cards and thought it would be perfect, and then a box of some type to hold the book mark for gift giving. Then the next day I went to the retreat and by the time I came home I had everything figured out. One of the projects that Wendy shared was the cutest little purse made with the Big Shot and several dies. I changed the colors and designer paper and ta-da the box for my bookmark was born. Michelle shared her version of a flower pot card – that was just what I needed for my class. I took her idea, changed the colors and actually made it smaller because I needed it to fit in the medium envelopes – I didn’t have any large envelopes here and wanted a matching envelope for the class. The ideas and the retreat were perfect timing and my class projects were figured out and ready in time for class Wed. night.
So here is what everyone made –
Hardware Book Mark
- Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware
- Baja Breeze Double-stitched ribbon
- Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon
- Very Vanilla card stock
- Designer Label Punch
- Pocket Silhouettes stamp set
- Lovely Letters Alphabet stamp set
- Baja Breeze and Old Olive classic ink and Stampin’ Write Markers
- Crystal Effects
- piece of thick cardboard from the designer paper package
Big Shot Purse
- Big Shot Die Cut Machine
- Top Note Die
- Scallop Circle Die
- Flower Daisies #2 Die
- Circle Scissor and Glass Mat
- Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper
- Chocolate Chip card stock
Wendy's Big Shot Purse - So Saffron, Bella Birds Designer Paper
- Baja Breeze card stock
- Baja Breeze classic ink
- Stampin’ Sponge
- Chocolate Chip Corduroy Brad
- Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon
- Pop-Up Glue Dot
- Sticky Strip
- Paper Piercer
- Magnetic closure
Flower Pot Card
- Chocolate Chip card stock
- Baja Breeze card stock
- Kiwi Kiss card stock
- Whisper White card stock
- Walk in the Park Designer Series paper
- Big Shot Die Cut Machine
- Flower Daisies #2 Die
- Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch
- 1″ Circle Punch
- Chocolate Chip Ink
- Baja Breeze Ink
- Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon
- Linen Thread
- Dimensionals
- Tombo Multipurpose Glue
- Stampin Sponger
- Scallop Edge Punch
- Blooming with Love stamp set
Enjoy your day!
Apr 29, 2009 | Circle Scissor Plus, Designer Series Paper, Occasions Mini 2009, SU Buttons, Wildlife |
I am mailing out the Corduroy Button Share today. I had them packaged a couple of days ago but I wanted to make them cute – so I took some time yesterday and came up with a great idea!
I always save all of my little plastic containers that the buttons, brads and other accessories come in. I’m sure they are useful for something. I used up all the Corduroy button containers for sorting the share and then decided to decorate them. I peeled off the labels – some came off easily while others didn’t – so I heat them for a few seconds with the heat tool and then they come off. But if some of the sticky stays that’s ok because I’m covering it back up anyway.
I used the Circle Scissor Plus to cut a 2″ circle from the Pacific Point card stock. Then used my 1-3/4″ circle punch to punch circles from the Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper. I attached those to the lid of the container. Closed it up and tied a piece of Pacific Point striped ribbon around it.
Then I stamped “for you” from the Great Friend stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog in Pacific Point ink on Whisper White. Stamp the leaf image in Kiwi Kiss. Then punch out with the Large Oval Punch. I used the new Scallop Oval Punch to punch out Pacific Point card stock and layer behind my large oval. Punch a small hole in one end with the 1/16″ handheld punch and tie a piece of Linen Thread throught to attach it to the ribbon.
You could use these little containers to hold various little treats and gifts and decorate to suit your occasion. If you were part of the share or won my blog candy during the tour yours will be on the way to you shortly.
And a quick bird update – yesterday the Towhee left his nest. I can still hear them calling so they are probably still around. My book says they have 2 broods per year, but I’m not sure if they use the same nest or build a new one. I’ll go back and remove the eggs that didn’t incubate soon.
The robins left this morning. I let Magnolia out earlier and happened to see the 2nd baby perched on the 
downspout ready to fly. The other one had already left the nest earlier this morning. I ran inside to get my camera and take one last picture of this little guy. We were almost late for school – oops! When I got back home he was gone. Robins have 2-3 broods per year. Again I don’t know if they reuse the same nest. I’ll have to figure that out. I want to get a ladder and see if any eggs were left behind.
The bluebirds and chickadees are still feeding. I think they still have a few more days probably over the weekend or the first of next week before they are ready to go.
I have lots to do today – so I’m headed to the craft room now. I’m hoping to get the tutorial for the cracked glass posted tomorrow. So visit me again.
Have a great day!
