Jan 1, 2010 | Scrapbook Pages, Stamps |
Gosh – it’s a new year – it is really 2010! I told my husband this morning that this is the year our oldest son will graduate high school and really start college (he is already attending the local college for his senior year classes). It will be the year our middle son gets his driver’s license. It will be the year our youngest son starts high school. I guess we are getting older or family is quickly growing up. This should be an exciting year for us!
It was almost a year ago was when I started this blog – it will be my one year blog-iversary (is that a word) – later this month. Llooking back on this last year of my blog – I thought I would pick some of my favorite projects from each month of this last year. I’m so thrilled with how many people view my blog and wish I knew who you all were… and I know everyone hasn’t followed me from the beginning…thanks for visiting it makes me happy to read the comments that everyone leaves. Thanks so much and Happy New Year!
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
Mr. Turtle
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
and one more (I couldn’t decide between the two)
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
Have a happy and healthy new year!
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Dec 1, 2009 | Big Shot, Christmas, Christmas Punch, Designer Series Paper, Holiday Mini Catalog 2009 |
I found this idea while searching Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator blogs a few weeks ago. I tried to go back and find the original blog that I saw the idea but I can not find it. I have found several other blogs with this same idea and many other variations of it. The original blog I found it on didn’t have specific instructions and I’m not positive that she actually used the Stampin’ Up! matchbox die I actually think hers was made with real matchboxes. So I don’t know who to credit for the original idea but here is my version.
I added an extra box on the top to be box 25 to be opened on Christmas Day. I used the Scallop Square Clear die to create the top and bottom. I created a hinged lid and used the corduroy button and some silver cord as the closure.
I put most of this together over the Thanksgiving Holiday and I finished it here at home yesterday. Ryan kept looking in it last night for candy. Well there isn’t any yet. I’m headed to the store shortly and will get some then.
I cut 24 matchboxes using the Matchbox Die and the Big Shot machine. The drawer part was cut out of Designer Series Paper. The papers I used were retired from last year and since I didn’t have enough of one pack left I combined two different packs to get this project done. You need 6 full sheets of the 12×12 DSP to create the drawers plus extra to cover the sides of the stacked boxes, the box on the top and the lid. I fold up all the little drawers and if it all works right you don’t need any adhesive to hold them together. I had a few that wouldn’t stay together so I just helped them along with some adhesive.
The outside of each matchbox was cut out of Chocolate Chip card stock. I used 12″ x 12″ sheets and cut them into 3″ x 6″ pieces (I need to double check my measurement – but it is slightly shorter than the actual die-cut, I wanted to maximize my card stock so I had a smaller over hang to glue the box together than what the die gives you). I used the Tombow Multipurpose adhesive to glue everything together for this project. I glued together all the outside pieces of the matchboxes and then glued them into stacks of 3 tall.
I cut 3 5-1/2″ squares to use at the base, and in between the layers. On the base I glued four stacks of the boxes so that each one faced out on a different side. Then I glued the middle square to the top of those. Then glued on the next four stacks of boxes – again so that each one faced out on one of the sides but opposite of the bottom layer. 
Then glue the top square on.
Before sliding in the drawers I used the small hole punch on the Crop-a-dile to put a hole in the front of each drawer. I tied a piece of ribbon into a small loop and poked it through the hole from the inside. To keep from wasting a lot of ribbon I actually tied the loop while it was on the roll and then cut it off. I have fat fingers and it takes more ribbon than what I actually need to get it around my finger and into the knot. I used the 1/4″ Grosgrain ribbon – colors were Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Real Red. Then I slid the drawers in on each side.
I created the numbers for the drawers using the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set. I punched each number out with the 1/2″ circle punch and backed it with a 3/4″ circle punch in either Real Red, Chocolate Chip or Old Olive. I just randomly glued them onto the different drawers. I wanted to be a search and hunt and turn to all the different sides throughout the whole month, so I didn’t put them in order.
I stamped some additional images to add to the large side squares. Stamp sets I used were:
Christmas Punch, Tree Trimmings, Patterned Pines, Delightful Decorations, Winter Post and Dasher. And I added one of the felt snowflakes from last year. I believe these are available on the Stampin’ Up! clearance store – you can visit my website and click SHOP NOW to see if they are still available.
For the top I used the Stampin’ Up! Clear Scallop Square Die (and I have another great project to post later this week using this same die – it got A LOT of use over the holiday break). The top is decorated with the die cuts – the GoGo Boots Alphabet Sizzlit Die set and the Merry Details Sizzlit Die. You can’t see it but there is a piece of silver cord wrapped around the corduroy button to hold the lid shut. I punched two 1/16″ holes in the red card stock – just under the Designer Series Paper. The knot for the loop is hidden under the paper. I’ll have to put a nice surprise in there.
I have been trying to find an idea that I liked for an advent project and this is my favorite so far. I love all the coordinating products that we get from Stampin’ Up! and the beauty of stamps is that I can create my accents in what ever color I need them to be. Enjoy!
Let the countdown begin……..
Nov 16, 2009 | Baroque Motifs, Big Shot, Christmas, Contest Winner, Embossing, Stamper's Club |
This is the best project! So much fun to make and they will be awesome gifts for almost anyone. I have been wanting to make the tile coasters with the tumbled tiles for awhile now. I made them a couple of years ago using StazOn ink and Stampin’ Pastels but I’ve seen other people making them with craft ink. I had planned on the tiles being one of the projects for my Stamper’s Club this time since we were working on gift giving ideas. In the Simply Holidays class that Heather Summers had she showed us a tumbled tile project that included a box to hold the tiles – it was perfect! I made sure I had Craft Ink and Clear Embossing Powder and I went and bought the tiles and was ready to roll. I decided to use the Dasher stamp set on the tiles and was very happy with how they turned out.
Stampin’ Up! supplies include:
– Dasher stamp set
– Tree Trimmings stamp set
– Baroque Motifs stamp set
– Warm Words stamp set
– Winter Post stamp set (for the tag)
– Craft ink in Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Real Red
– Clear Embossing Powder
– Chocolate Chip card stock for the box
– Kraft card stock for the tag
– Old Olive or Chocolate Chip 1-1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
– Big Shot and Stampin’ Up! Two Tags die
– Red hemp cord (retired SU product)
And non-SU are the Tumbled Tiles and the felt tabs for the bottom of the tiles.
I made up about 4 more sets the weekend after we had our club meeting and I do plan to make some more to have for gifts this Holiday season.
UPDATE: I have been getting some questions on these so here is an explanation of how they were made.
I stamped the images with Craft ink and then covered them with Clear Embossing Powder. Since I was making a bunch I put them all on a cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper) and put them in the oven – I think each oven varies so you may need to test the temp and time for yours. I started at 300 degrees and it was taking a very long time so I increased the temp to 350. It took about 8 minutes for each batch of tiles – I have large cookie sheets so I think I had at least 8 or 10 tiles on it. You do want them all to lie flat on the tray – I did one batch where I had one leaning up on the edge and it took much longer to heat the embossing powder. You can see the powder change from powdery to a shiny finish. If you leave them too long they start to bubble so you do need to keep an eye on them. Then I took them out of the oven and I had a large towel doubled on my counter – I used a spatula to take them off the tray and place on the towel to cool – they will be HOT – don’t touch them! After they cool completely add the little felt pads to the bottom so they don’t scratch the table when you use them. I bought my tumbled tiles at Home Depot and they were about $5 for a box of 9.
Happy Stampin’!
Nov 13, 2009 | Designer Series Paper, Holiday Mini Catalog 2009, Pocket Silhouettes, Punch Art, Stamper's Club |
This is one of the cards that we made at this months Stamper’s Club meeting. I’ve seen this idea on several other blogs – the Ornament Punch turned into a vase. I love when people think outside the box and come up with unusual ideas for something that seems to be so obviously suited for just one thing. There are many ideas floating round the blogs out there on different ways to use the ornament punch that is in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini catalog other than the obvious of using it as an ornament.
For this card the tip of the ornament was trimmed off to create the flat bottom on the vase. The edges are sponged in Basic Gray ink and then Champagne Shimmer Mist Paint is also dabbed on with a sponge. In real life it really looks like a shiny oriental vase – this photograph doesn’t show it very well.
The Designer Series Paper is Nouveau Chic with colors of Basic Black, Basic Gray, Sage Shadow and Apricot Appeal. I felt like I went outside of my color comfort zone on this one – the Sage and Apricot colors have not been used recently in anything that I’ve done. I was pleased with how the card turned out and it really was a quick card since the punch created the vase. I very lightly sponged the Basic Gray ink underneath and to the side of the vase to create shadows and it is actually popped up on a dimensional.
Today is a beautiful day in north Georgia. We are drying out again from lots of rain earlier this week (several creeks flooded again). It should be great for the high school football games tonight – it is the first night of playoffs and we did secure a spot. Go Etowah Eagles!
Thanks for stopping by!
Nov 10, 2009 | Big Shot, Circle Scissor Plus, Designer Series Paper, Season of Friendship, Stamper's Club |
I didn’t forget about posting the rest of the seasonal plates (original post was on 10-17 – click here) it just took me a while to get an update picture of the change that I made during our Stamp Club meeting to the spring design. Here is the whole set:
The Fall and Winter designs were the ones I posted earlier. The Spring plate was the one I changed – in this photo the Rich Razzleberry card stock is just plain. While we were making these at the Stamp Club meeting I thought that I should have used the embossing folder on it just to give it some texture. And when the girls did theirs that way it looked great! But mine was still plain and I didn’t want to show it to you that way. So that is what took so long – I took mine apart and embossed the Rich Razzleberry card stock using the Stampin’ Up! Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder. Then I put it back together and took a photo so I could post it – here is the updated version:
We made the four circle pieces – one for each season and used Velcro to attach to the front of a glass plate. Then stand it up in a plate stand and switch it out as the seasons change. This would make a nice gift for someone.
The main Stampin’ Up! tools we used were the Big Shot with the Stampin’ Up! Top Note die and the Circle Scissor Plus to cut all the circles. The Season of Friendship stamp set was perfect for this project and I was so excited to see it in the new catalog.
The summer plate was the only one that didn’t use any Designer Series paper on it. The background is just stamped with the leaves and then there are flowers under the tree – some of the flowers are cut out and popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and so are some of the leaves on the tree.
On each plate the little bird was stamped and cut out and added somewhere in the design.
I really love how all of these turned out.
I have also seen where some people have done the plates with the design attached to the back so you can set it down and serve off of it. But then your design has to be flat – no buttons – so it is flat against the glass. But I like mine on the top with some dimension and use it a a decorative piece and not a serving piece.
Have a productive day! I got a lot done yesterday and hope to make good progress today too.
Nov 5, 2009 | In Colors, Upsy Daisy |
I have started making 3×3 tags to put on all of my orders – they serve two purposes – one to say thank you to the person that ordered and two it has their name on it so I know whose bag it is without having to look inside. I saw this idea when I visited Christina Crawford, a demo in Virginia. She had tags on all of her orders and they just looked so pretty. This week I made some fall looking ones using the Upsy Daisy stamp set. They turned out cute – the layout was one from Stampin’ Up! and I just changed the colors to suit what I needed.
Stampin’ Up! supplies used:
- Crushed Curry card stock
- Dusty Durango card stock
- Chocolate Chip card stock
- Whisper White card stock
- Upsy Daisy stamp set
- Crushed Curry ink
- Chocolate Chip ink
- Linen Thread
- Crop-a-Dile
- Tag corner punch
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
The 3×3 cards are quick and easy to make so I whipped out a small stack in no time. And then I decided to make a full size card using the exact same design, colors and stamp set. I needed a card to send off as a Thank You. Once you find a layout that you like or a color combination just adapt it to the size card that you need.
To create the large card – I stamped the daisy image twice. I made the Chocolate Chip strip a little wider and added the paper piercing along the bottom of the card. The Tag for the Thank You is also longer and the Dusty Durango circle is a 1/2″ circle on that tag.
So additional Stampin’ Up! supplies needed for the larger card include
– 1/2″ circle punch
– Paper Piercer
– Mat Pack
After having so much rain for so long this week has been beautiful with clear sunny skies. But fall is definitely here – the leaves are turning and falling to the ground faster than Greg can keep them off the yard. It would be a great time to drive up to the mountains and take some pictures.
Have a wonderful day!
