Top Note Treat Holder

When I was at convention I asked one of the Stampin’ Up! employees to help me with something that I needed information about.  The person helping me was named Gwen and she was so nice!  In order to answer my question she needed to return to her office after convention and then she said she would call me.  She even gave me a cute little treat holder while we talked – how nice was that!  And after convention she called me back at home to give me the answer to my question.  That is some excellent customer service!  I do think Stampin’ Up! has the best customer service anywhere.   So the little treat holder she gave me was just too cute – now the candy part didn’t exactly make it back home but the holder did and I made my own version and used it for a class project last week.  Here is mine:

It is made from a Top Note die cut – oh here are some facts about this Stampin’ Up! die:  it is the #1 selling steel-ruled die, it is the #3 top seller of all the Stampin’ Up! Big Shot dies.  Stampin’ Up! has sold over 30,000 of the Top Note die.  Do you want to know the other top sellers?  #2 was the Elegant Bouquet Textured Embossing Folder at 37,000, and #1 is the Beautiful Butterflies Embosslit at 41,000.  Those are the Big Shot facts that we got at convention.

Ok back to the project.  The Top Note is cut first using the Big Shot and then I used the Big Shot and the Perfect Details Texture Plate to add the texture to my die cut.  Next you add a score line on either side of the center point and fold over to create the holder for a small candy bar.  I stapled it shut and it hold the candy snug and you just slide it out when you are ready to eat it.  Here is what it looks like with the candy pulled out:

To decorate the front I decided to use the new Hostess Stamp set called Afterthoughts.  I thought it was the perfect little greeting for this treat holder – “Just for you …. so you don’t have to share!”  A little piece of chocolate that you get all to yourself – it says it right on the front that you don’t have to share – just make lots and give to everyone you know.  To punch out the words I used a new punch that is coming out in the Holiday Mini Catalog available September 1st.  The punch is called the Decorative Label Extra Large Punch.  I punched one in Wild Wasabi – cut it in half and layered behind the White one.  Then I punched a Pretty in Pink 1-3/4″ circle and put that behind the label.  I also stamped the little flower from the same stamp set and punched it with the small circle punch from the Punch Pack.  In the center I added one of our new little self-adhesive half-pearls – they are so cute and perfect for the center of a flower.  Each package has three different sizes of pearls.  Oh – I almost forgot – the color combination that I used was one I got from the Color Coach.  A very fun little treat!

And now it is time for Monika’s BLOG BINGO!

We are currently playing the Round 1 group.  As soon as I have a winner for Round 1 I will email out the cards for Group 2 and we will start playing.  Then Group 3 will follow.  Hurry if you want to be in Group 3 – only 1 spot left.   See this POST for more details.

Leave a comment and let us know if anyone is close to Bingo yet!  i think there should be a lot with three in a row and there should be some with 4 in a row.  I’m anxious to give a prize away!

Here is piece #8 – the small swirly circle from Circle Circus stamp set (stamped in Pear Pizzazz).

Thanks for stopping by my blog today – I hope your visit was a treat!

Pedaling Past

I wanted to share this swap card that I received at convention – it was one of my favorite and used a stamp set I never really paid attention to.  The stamp set is called Pedaling Past in the Stampin’ Up! Summer Mini Catalog.

This swap card was created by a demonstrator named Tamera Gadd.  The card is Early Espresso textured card stock on the base and then a layer that has been embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder and the Big Shot Die-cut machine.  In between the two is a strip of Daffodil Delight punched with the Scallop Trim border punch and then there are the little rhinestone gems on each little scallop.  A piece of the Early Espresso 1/8″ ribbon.   A masking technique was used to add the flowers to the back of the bicycle.  The flowers are from the Loads of Love stamp set.  The flowers are colored with markers.  A very nice card in person.  Thanks Tamera for swapping with me!

If you want to order this or any other of the great sets from the Summer Mini catalog – you need to hurry.  The last day to order is August 31st.  Visit my online store or email me to place your order today.

And now it is time for Monika’s BLOG BINGO!

We are currently playing the Round 1 group.  As soon as I have a winner for Round 1 I will email out the cards for Group 2 and we will start playing.  Then Group 3 will follow.  Hurry if you want to be in Group 3.   See this POST for more details.

Leave a comment and let us know if anyone is close to Bingo yet!

Here is piece #7 – the crown from Family Accessories Too stamp set (stamped in Poppy Parade).

Thanks for “pedaling past” and stopping by my blog today – I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Watercolor Just Believe and SU product updates

This was my favorite card from the Make & Take class at the Stampin’ Up! Convention.  For one it is one of my favorite new stamp sets called Just Believe.  And it used a water coloring technique that makes it look like your a real artist!  The stamp does all the work because it is such a nice image.  Using Stampin’ Write Markers you color your image.  Using a fine mist spritzer (like our Stampin’ Mist cleaner spritzer) – spritz the stamp with water and then stamp onto Watercolor Paper.  I hold it on the paper for just a few seconds before lifting it.  The water makes it look like a real watercolor painting.

We made this card in my hands-on class on Friday.  It looks harder than it is and turns out just beautiful every time.

I also wanted to update you on a few Stampin’ Up! Products.  First there are some new Digital Downloads available for your My Digital Studio Software. To order these visit my online store on my Stampin’ Up! website – CLICK HERE.

The latest group of digital downloads for My Digital Studio are now available!

Item Description Price
122157Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Color Pack$3.95
123367Flower Brads Brights Pack$1.95
123374Flower Brads Subtles Pack$1.95
123381Flower Brads Regals Pack$1.95
123388Flower Brads Neutrals Pack$1.95
121438Play Date Designer Series Paper$4.95
123432Play Date Quick Accents Kit$5.95
123433Play Date Embellishments$3.95
121439Forest Friends stamp brush set$1.95
121440Letters stamp brush set$9.95
123431Funky Four stamp brush set$3.95

Then I have a couple of catalog product updates.

The Play Date Rub-Ons (Item #118760) on page 184 in the catalog are now available to order.

The Punch Caddy on page 200 in the catalog are not going to be available at all.  I know I had them on my wish list and I was disappointed to here this announcement.  Due to serious production and quality issues with the product Stampin’ Up! has decided not to offer this product at all.  I’d much rather know that now that find out it is a bad product after selling it to someone.

Now it is time for Monika’s Blog Bingo!  Does anyone have all the called pieces so far?

I am continuing with Round 1 of Monika’s Blog Bingo.  Round 2 is full and I’m taking names for Round 3 right now  which is close to being full too.  See this POST for more details.

Here is piece #4 – the Owl image from the Cute by the Inch stamp set – hostess set- (stamped in Chocolate Chip).

I hope you are having a nice weekend!

Extreme Skateboard

This card was created by my Stampin’ Up! Convention Roommate Michele.  Our whole room participated in a Shoebox Swap on Saturday night after convention.

I like the way she used the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper and ran it through the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder.  If you look at this package of paper it is feminine with lots of floral patterns.  Michele used it here in a more masculine teen card.

Stampin’ Up! Supplies:

  • Card stock: Marina Mist, Early Espresso,Whisper White
  • Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist
  • Stamp sets: Extreme Skateboard, Extreme Elements
  • Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder
  • Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper
  • Silver Foil Smooch Spritz
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

To order Stampin’ Up! Supplies to make this project click here.

On a personal note I just wanted to say that on Thursday we took my oldest son Kyle to college and moved him into his dorm.  I’ll miss him but I’m excited for all the opportunities that are available to him in this new chapter of his life.  He isn’t too far away from home – he will be in downtown Atlanta at Georgia Tech – less than an hour away (unless of course it is rush hour traffic).

It’s BINGO TIME!  Continuing with Round 1 of Monika’s Blog Bingo.  Round 2 is full and I’m taking names for Round 3 right now.  See this POST for more details.

Here is piece #2 – the sunburst image from the Eastern Blooms stamp set (in Poppy Parade) – this image is very similar to the sunburst image from Baroque Motifs.

Have a great day!

Believe 3×3 Card and Bingo update

This little 3×3 card was one of the Make & Takes from our convention class.  It uses a reverse masking technique.  In our kit was a piece of card stock that had been cut with the Circles #2 die for the Big Shot.  Using the negative piece (not the circles) we placed this over our card stock to create a mask on the outside edges of the card.  Then using a Stampin’ Sponge add color to the inside of the circle.  We also stamped the leaf image before removing the mask.  Make sure your mask doesn’t move while you are doing the sponging and stamping – I have a little shadow on mine because I slipped just a bit.

The words were added after the mask was removed – I needed to scoot mine over just a bit so it wasn’t on top of my leaves.  It’s not perfect but it’s still a cute card.

I used this card as one of the projects at my Open House for everyone to make.  My oops was that I thought I had envelopes for the 3x3s but I was wrong – sorry about that.

BINGO UPDATE:

I have filled all the player slots for Round 1 and have started a list of players for Round 2 which is also filling quickly.  I will be emailing Bingo Cards for the Round 1 players today, Wednesday.  And I’ll start calling Bingo pieces on Thursday and I’ll have a piece each day until someone gets Bingo.   I think it is fun to see where everyone is from!  Here are the round 1 players:

  • Carolyn from NC
  • Lisa from MT
  • Andrea from CA
  • D from WA
  • Jeanette from GA
  • Gery from LA
  • Bonnie from GA
  • Jana’ from NV
  • Marisol from NJ
  • Cinthia from MI
  • Chris from IL
  • Sherry from CA
  • Nancy from FL
  • Anne from CA
  • Donna from WI

Good luck and let’s have fun!

Artisan Award

The 10 Artisan Award winners had their projects on display at convention.  And Stampin’ Up! announced I think 25 finalists.  Unfortunately I wasn’t in that group either – bummer.  I did however find 8-1/2 of my projects on the display boards so that was exciting.  I also found 5 or 6 other projects some were swaps from the last convention – I thought that was good since they held on to those for a whole year.

If you are wondering about how I had 8-1/2 projects displayed this is where the half came in…..

I was looking at this display board and there was another demonstrator standing next to me.  She commented on the pretty paper flowers which I hadn’t really paid attention to.  So I looked at those and thought – oh my gosh those are my flowers – those are my flowers from my scrapbook page that I sent in for the Artisan Award contest – oh no – what happened to my page – and my mind continues to run in a whirlwind of thoughts – when did the page come apart – was it in shipping to SU, was it before the judging, was it after, was it in transit to the convention center, this is not good at all and I will never even know.  It was my favorite page too.

I wish everyone could have seen the whole page not just the flowers up on that board. So here it is again for you to see – isn’t my niece Ally just Cute as a Button!

Otherwise both of my 3-d projects were on display, the other two scrapbook pages were on display, and four of my five cards – at least I never found the 5th one. If you want to see all of my projects that I entered – CLICK HERE.

I wondered what the winners had submitted and there were a few with very impressive projects – I think this one takes the cake! (literally)!

I can only imagine how many hours she spent making those flowers!  The creator of this awesome cake  project was Jodi Oliver.

Here is another winner Heather Van Duker.

Look at the wall hanging that she made.  The fabric pieces are cut with the Big Shot and a variety of  the dies.  My sewing skills are not that great – I probably should not have attempted it on my entry.

Another winner was Angela Timms – here are some of her projects – just check out the details in her scrapbook pages – OMG!

Oh and there were actually only 9 girls that won the Artisan Award.  The 10th one was a guy!  Yep we do have men that are Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators.

So in case you wondered what his stamping looks like I thought I would share his winning projects too.

His name is Richard Garay and he won some other stuff too.  Each year they have a commercial/video contest and Richard won that this year with his team of demonstrators.  I’ll have to try to locate the video it is probably somewhere on the internet by now.

Let’s see if I have the names of all of the winners (not in any order other than my pictures were taken in this order).

  1. Sarah Sagert
  2. Tessa Wise
  3. Richard Garay
  4. Renee Ballard
  5. Rebecca Cowley
  6. Heather Van Duker
  7. Jodi Oliver
  8. Elizabeth Price
  9. Angela Timms
  10. Andrea Munro

Have a great day today!  Only one more week until we move Kyle down to college.  I’m not sure how that will be not having him here.  I guess I’ll know soon enough…..