August Throwdown Challenge

Last night I pulled out the supplies from the August TGIF Throwdown Challenge to see what I could create.  Sometimes having access to a limited number of supplies can be good and sometime it is also frustrating!  I enjoy having a challenge though and thinking outside the box.  I missed taking part in this challenge in July but didn’t want to miss August.  So this is what I had to work with this time – plus the pantry with some basics in it.

basket+03We had to use at least 4 items from the list and for this card I had Pool Party Cardstock, Lovely Lace Embossing folder, the Flower Patch stamp set, Pear Pizzaz and Calypso Coral ink.  If it says OR you can only use one of the two items.  The big problem I found with this list – there is only one color of card stock and no dies or punches!  That means no framelits for cutting out all the pieces in the Flower Patch stamp set.  Darn it!

I did pull a few items from the Pantry list to complete my card.  And here is what I came up with – I really did like how it turned out.

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From the Pantry list I used – Whisper White card stock, my Paper Trimmer to cut out the window on the front layer, my Big Shot for the Embossing folder, Whisper White Baker’s Twine, clear blocks, adhesive, paper snips and Basic Black ink.  It would be really hard to make a card without some of those things.

Now I did use one household item and that was a cotton swab – that is my flower center – I dipped it in the black ink for the center of the flowers.

If you want to read more about the TGIF Throwdown challenge – go HERE. You can play along too.

I actually made a second card while I had all the supplies out but not sure I really like it – it was way different and not sure I want to post it.

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Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great week. I’ll be getting Ryan all packed up and taking him back to college this week.  Insert SAD face here.  I guess it has to happen.  I keep telling myself I have to let them fly…..

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Instagram Themed Roommate Gifts

When we travel to a Stampin’ Up! event and share a room with friends it is a fun treat to make roommate gifts for one another.

I’ve made a variety of things over the years and always want something unique.  I try to find something that is my main inspiration for the gift which is usually an assortment of related items.  This year I started with a set of vintage style Instagram pens that I was able to buy at the Facebook store when we visited Kyle earlier in the summer. I should have taken a photo of just the set of pens – each one in the package was different colors – so I based each roommate gift one of of the color combinations. And I made one set for myself – that’s the one I photographed.

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For my set the colors were Sahara Sand and So Saffron.  I’m trying to remember the other colors – one was Marina Mist and So Saffron, one was Marina Mist and Whisper White and the fourth one was Sahara Sand and Lost Lagoon.  I think that’s what they were – so each note pad and the bag tag matched the pen.  Everyone had the same little photo book.

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I used some little black canvas bags to hold everything and clipped a little bag tag on each one.  When we go to a Stampin’ Up! Event everyone receives a bag – so all 2000+ of us end up with the same bag and it’s a good idea to bring a unique tag to attach to yours.  So I made these as part of my gift and then we were able to clip them to our SU bags for the week.

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I also included a little Everyday Notes set.  I used index cards that I cut into 2″ pieces and punched them with the Ornate Tag Topper punch.  I made several of these for myself and I’m actually using them for little notes in my craft room as I’m working and need to remember things or replenish supplies.  But my thought was writing notes about photos you take or things you want to remember to add to your scrapbook.

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And then I made this fun little mini scrapbook that resembles the Instagram logo.  It’s a 4×4 size so it’s perfect for your real Instagram photos – add in photos as pages or trim and attach to a card stock page.  I thought it would be a fun little album.  I found the idea on Pinterest I believe it was another Stampin’ Up! demo in Europe that made some like these.

That was what I gave to each of my roommates.  I haven’t photographed what they gave me – and in some cases have already used (or eaten) what was inside!

Thanks for stopping by today!

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Homemade for You + Baker’s Box

Hopefully you have noticed all the Bundles that are offered in the Stampin’ Up! Catalog.  Bundle’s are where Stampin’ Up! has put together coordinating stamps and accessories to give you a 15% discount when you purchase them together.  It’s a sweet deal and there are bunches of them throughout the catalog.  Here is one that I’m going to share with you today – it’s a follow up to the All Boxed Up Kit I shared a few days ago.  If you loved that kit and want more boxes like that then you need this bundle.

It’s the Homemade for You stamp set + Baker’s Box Thinlits Dies – it’s on page 59 of the annual catalog.

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For my Stamper’s Club meeting this month everyone got to make their own box using some of the Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper stack.  The 6×6 pieces fit on the die for the box – you’ll need two matching pieces of paper.

pretty-petals-baker-box-EI used the stamp set to create my little tag for the front.  Added some of the new In-Color accessories – the blossoms and lace trim to finish my box.

One tip for you – because I used Designer Paper instead of card stock the box was not as sturdy so I cut a piece of thin cardboard (like the piece that comes in the designer paper packages) to fit in the bottom of my Baker’s Box.  I just put a bit of adhesive on that and then slid it inside the bottom of my box for a little extra support to hold whatever treat I add to the inside.

Here is a video from Stampin’ Up! showing you how to use the dies to make the box.

I love that it has the various options for the handles.  Since I used Designer paper which is thinner than card stock I did stack both sides together before I cut my hole for the handle – so it was lined up.

Everyone used different prints from the Pretty Petals paper stack for their box so each one was unique  – some where tied with the Mint Macaron Lace and others with Watermelon Wonder Lace.

Here is a list of supplies that I used.

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com


Thanks so much for stopping in today!

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A quick treat for someone sweet

When I go to the Stampin’ Up! Convention I like to have a little treat for my long distance friends that I get to see.  I’m not really wanting to swap anything but I want to give them something sweet to let them know I am so happy to see them in person.  Or it might be something I give to someone I’ve met for the first time – a new friend.  I give them not only to demonstrators but also the Stampin’ Up! staff those that I have come to know over the years and those that I’m meeting for the first time.

If I’m making a lot it needs to be quick but still cute.  Each year I do something different and it normally involves candy.  Years ago it was common to cover the little round York Peppermint patties but they changed their packaging and it is no longer round but I did find another mint patty company that still has the round foil wrapped mints so that is what I went with this year.

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I used the Crazy About You stamp set for this little treat.  I stamped the flower in the new Delightful Dijon and punched it out with my Scallop Circle punch.  Punched out another Delightful Dijon Scalloped circle for the back.  I’ve been saving all my 1/4″ strips that I cut off when prepping card layers so I pulled out a stack of those and stamped them with HELLO.  I punched them first with the Word Window punch (I could have stopped with that) and then with the Triple Banner Punch to flag the end.

Punch a hole in the end of the tag and the front of the flower and put them together with a tiny Silver Brad.  Then glue the pieces to each side of the mint.  I made a whole punch and carried them with me around convention.  It was fun to give people a sweet little treat.

Here are a few photos of me with some of the Stampin’ Up! staff.

Lunch with with concept artists, with Bonnie Farley at the Roaring 20s party, with Shannon West, with Pam Morgan near the Paper Pumpkin booth, and also Brandi Barnard, with Donna Griffith in her training class, twinning with Brian Pilling and with Sara Douglas.  I know I’ll get to see Brandi in Newport Beach next month but I’m not sure about any of the others.

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Stampin’ Up! people are the best!  I love them all.

Thanks for stopping by today!

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Share the Fun: All Boxed Up

The Stampin’ Up! catalog has a selection of project kits that have been extremely popular!  Almost every kit has sold out in a much shorter time frame than predicted – in some cases a 12 week supply has sold out in only 2 weeks!  So these are hot, hot, hot!  The projects are cute and with everything is prepped for you – so its a win win.  I was able to get the All Boxed Up Kit early on and then had to wait on a refill later but now it seems to be all back in stock – at least its not showing on the backorder list right now.

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This one is super quick – the box is cut and scored and even has the adhesive on it.  Here are a few tips for you though –

  • make sure you go ahead and fold all the straight score lines – the sides and the top and bottom edge along with the tabs
  • I don’t prefold the diagonal ones though
  • when attaching the side panel lay the box down flat and fold the end over to just lay on top of the tab with the adhesive on it.  it really lines up better when you do it that way rather than holding it up in the air and trying to match it up.
  • The bottom of the box is tucked in like you would a box where you take each side and tuck it under the one next to it – so I started by securing one of the adhesive triangles, then tucking each corner around until I got to the last one and then secured the adhesive there.  Stampin’ Up! has a video that I’m including below.
  • After you have the box together – stand it up and then put a finger in each of those triangles where the diagonal lines are scored and push those in and have the top flaps meet.
  • The Baker’s Twine – I measured to see how much there was for all 10 boxes – 55 inches is what I came up with per box – so cut that and wrap it around and tie in a bow at the top – do that after you fill the box. Or you’ll need to slide it back off.

We made these at my Stamper’s Club meeting this month.  And then I also showed them how to use the Baker’s Box Thinlits die which creates the same box that you see in this kit.  I’ll share that project with you in another post.

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com


Thanks for stopping by today!

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