Get the Facts Straight

With all the new products coming out for the Big Shot, I can see where it could get a bit confusing.  Here's a great video from Stampin' Up! to help you get all the facts straight.

Now, in case you're wondering, I pretty much use my Big Shot each and every day.  It is well worth the investment.  I hope this video helps you to get all the facts and keep them straight.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

- Please sign up to follow my blog and/or leave a comment. 

- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Our Club Banner Project

Here is the banner we made at our Hostess Scrapbook Club this last week.  It was fun.  I made a second one to put in my Prairie Treasures Booth.  My other banners there have sold already, so I thought I'd see how they like this one:)

If you're at all interested in a fun social time, adding to your 'stash' while staying on a budget, getting lots of scrapbooking done, learning how to make other fun stamping/scrapping projects, seeing all the latest products and techniques... join our next round of Hostess Scrapbook Club.  We will begin our new round on the first Monday of March.  I'll have a gift for those who sign up and a surprise project to do with it.  We'll also start out this next round with a beautiful Spring layout, using our new Secret Garden stamp set and coordinating framelits, along with a few Pop-Up Posies.

So here's the banner.  (Come back soon to see the mini album we also made at our last crop.)

Here's how I did it:

• I cut my squares at 4 1/4" to allow for plenty of wiggle room to apply each one onto the coaster.  
• I covered one side of each square with Liquid Tombow Adhesive, carefully lining it up straight with one side of the coaster.
• I gently smoothed it flat, making sure there were no bubbles or air pockets.  (Being sure to not use too much adhesive helps to get the papers on smoothly.)
• When each square was completely dry, I trimmed around the edges and gently sanded them smooth.
• Repeat process now with the back of each coaster, using CS or more DSP squares. 
• I used a Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes and then tied them together with our pretty dotted ribbon. 
• I punched scalloped circles from red glimmer paper and attached them to the coasters, slipping a half doily under each one.
• I cut the letters with the Big Shot and applied them to the red glimmer paper scalloped circles, using Liquid Tombow Adhesive.

You can add plenty of additional embellishments, as you wish.  I decided to keep this one kind of simple and let the letters and the sparkle of the red glimmer be the stars of the show.  My colors are shades of pinks and reds.  You could experiment with other color stories, as well.

As I said, come back soon and see the mini album that we made at the same crop.  I think you'll like it!

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Sketch Challenge: Round or Square?

Happy Groundhog Day!  I know what movie my husband will want to watch tonight.  He loves that movie!  No, I don't have a groundhog stamp or a groundhog project, but I have some fun scallops for today.
I made these cards to participate in a Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  It could be round or square.  I'll post my favorite one (the one I entered for the challenge) first.

The Poppy Parade and coordinating colors just wake you up! 

I colored the images using inks (Peach Parfait, Coral Calypso, Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade) and the Aqua Painter. 
Tip:
I almost always emboss first whenever I plan to color an image.  It's much easier to color the areas if you've embossed first and you don't have to worry about smearing the ink.

Here's another round version I made.  I used the bird shape from the Movers and Shapers die to coordinate with the little birds in the DSP.

These cards are both easel cards.  Another day, I'll show you how to make one, using lots of dies with the Big Shot.   
Warning:  These cards are fun, easy and very addictive!  OK, you've been warned:)

Here are the square cards I made, using the same sketch design.  I decided that I'd stay with the scallops.  You only needed to enter 1 card for the sketch challenge, but I really liked this design so I went ahead and made 2 of each:)

These cards are both cut with the large scallop square die.  I pierced the top left-hand corner and added a brad.  They swivel to open.  The flower is cut using the fun flowers die.

Here are the sketches for the challenge:  If you want to see more samples using this challenge, here's the link.

S-A-B Projects

I've been having a lot of fun creating projects with our Everyday Enchantment products from our S-A-B promotion.  These colors are sure to chase away the winter blahs!   They are so bright and cheerful, they just make me smile.
I decorated 2 of our cute little Kraft Gift Boxes (#124106) and made a couple of coordinating cards --- all with the Everyday Enchantment DSP, coordinating brads and ribbons from our current Sale-A-Bration promotion.  It's difficult to see it, but I added some of my Frost White Shimmer Paint/alcohol spritz over the card fronts and the flowers on the boxes.  I used the Fun Flowers die (#121812) to create the flowers on the top of each box.

Now is a great time to place orders, host workshops and/or sign up to become a part of my Stampin' Up! Team.  It all involves lots of extra free products for your creative enjoyment --- cards, projects and scrapbooking creations.  Check it out here!!!  You'll be glad you did!

Would you like to see what my daughter created using S-A-B with MDS?  Click here and enjoy!

Don't forget to sign up early for the February 18 Brunch Bunch class and create your own beautiful collage frame.  Check here for my class events.  Click here to see samples of some of my collage frames and read details about the class.  This is going to be a blast! 

Embossing...Embossing...Embossing

I love to emboss.  It adds instant layers of texture and shows great attention to detail.  It's fun; it's quick; it's easy; it's addicting:)
In one of my previous posts, I showed you the Designer Cuts Cards and Envelopes kit.  I had embossed some of the cards and all of the envelopes.  The kit actually comes with all pink envelopes.  Since I made 3 of the cards with blue tones, I switched out those envelopes for plain vanilla envelopes.  I went ahead and embossed the 3 remaining pink envelopes with the same hearts and will use those later for Valentine's Day cards, baby girl cards or cards for Spring.
Speaking of Valentine's Day, when I showed my finished cards to my husband, he asked me if I could make 2 more of the cards with the hearts.  I told him, yes, I'd make ONE card --- for his mother --- but I would not make a second one for him to give me for Valentine's Day.  I don't make cards for myself.  He's tried this stunt before:)
Again, here are the embossed envelopes I made for the cards:

Here's the envelope with the embossed portion.  It really makes it look elegant.

Here's the pink envelope with the embossed portion...again, quite elegant.  The embossing for this envelope has an embossing  folder that has already been made as just a strip.  It comes as a set of 3 folders, called Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Adorning Accents.  You can find them on page 7 of the Occasions Mini (#125601, for just $8.95).  Since they are in a set of 3, I keep them in a stamp case, also, with the image slipped into the front of the case.

The vanilla envelope was embossed using 1 of my custom cut strips.  It's starts with a Finial Press embossing folder.  If you're going to try this, buy an extra folder so you can keep the original one to emboss an entire card front.  You can see how I marked the front image with a pencil, so I could plan out where I would cut.  Once I had it planned out, I drew the same markings (using a Sharpie marker) onto the front of the embossing folder.  I used our Craft and Rubber scissors to cut the embossing folder.  After cutting, I cleaned off any remaining Sharpie lines, so they wouldn't transfer to my project.

Here are all the cut pieces.  Keeping them in an empty stamp case helps to keep track of them all.

Here is an embossed piece of CS showing the markings where I cut.  It's pretty easy to see here how I did it.

To emboss an envelope, I put the piece of embossing folder completely around the envelope.  It goes through the Big Shot easily, with no tabs.

Because you''re doing the entire envelops, you get a nice, deep embossing.  It looks really great.

I also cut up a Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  I hope you can see in these photos how I embossed just a portion of the card front.

Here's how I marked the folder, to plan out where I wanted to cut.  You could actually use several on the same card, embossing just portions of the card front wherever you wanted to emboss.....endless possibilities.

Here's how I store all the pieces... a great idea because you have a lot of pieces for this one:)

Close-ups...

It's a little difficult to see the embossing in photos, but I think you can get the idea.  It's quick and easy and really takes your project to the wow level in a hurry.

Let's Talk Giving...Gift Card Holders

Let's face it.  There are many times when giving a gift card works out better than a larger package.  Also, there are some people in your life for whom you never know what to give them - so a gift card works great.  You KNOW they'll choose something they like.  The problem with a gift card is that it seems so tiny under the Christmas tree compared to all those beautifully wrapped packages.  OR... sometimes you do actually need to mail a gift card, but you still want it to look nice.

So today, and over the next several posts, let's talk giving -- gift cards, that is -- and doing it up right!  It's all in the packaging.

This cute little gift card holder --- yes, it holds a gift card --- is made with the Top Note die.
See...here's the inside with a 'faux gift card.'

Here's how you do it.
Take an 8 1/2 X 11" piece of CS.  Cut it to 5 1/2 X 11" and save the 3 X 11" piece that you remove.  We'll use it for another gift card holder in my next post.

Take your 5 1/2 X 11" piece and score it at 3 3/4", 5 1/2", and 7 1/4" using the Simply Scored tool.  If you plan on making several of these gift card holders, use your place markers on the Simply Scored tool and you will be able to score several gift card holders in record time.

Fold on the center fold, to fold it in half.  Fold the outer two score lines in the opposite direction.  You get a 'valley' - 'mountain' - 'valley' fold going on here, so it creates a sort of 'w' shape.

Close your CS, folded.  (You'll have the 2 outer folds -- left, in above photo -- on the edge and the middle fold encased inside.)

Place the outer folds onto the Top Note die, as shown below.   
The folds will be just below the lower curves in the die.  I've placed a vanilla Top Note shape under our project, so you can see where the lines on the die would be.  Run this through the Big Shot.  It will be bulky, but it will go.  One side may get stuck a bit down in the die, so just carefully pull it out.

Here's the shape you will have made once you run it through the Big Shot.

Turn your piece over.  Now, you need adhesive.  You can use our Sticky Strip or Liquid Tombow for a strong hold.  (I used the Liquid Tombow.)  Place the adhesive ONLY where I have shown with the squiggly lines.   

Once you've secured the middle section with your adhesive, you need to create an opening to slip in your gift card.  I drew around a gift card to use as a template.  I cut my opening with the word window punch, starting in the center and then punching a tiny bit more on each side.  Keep stopping to 'fit' your gift card template into the opening so you'll know when it's the right size.
Tip:  You only punch a tiny bit off the fold.  It does NOT need to go very far down into the center.

Now you're ready to decorate, as desired.  I cut a piece of Frostwood Lodge DSP with the Top Note die, cut along the dotted lines and attached it to the front of my gift card holder.  Then I trimmed off the straight side.  I stamped and embossed the greeting with the Word Play stamp set and punched it out with our ornament punch.  I attached it with dimensionals and added a knotted bow of cherry cobbler ribbon.

Note:
Be sure to remove your gift card template and add a real gift card before giving:)

Trust me, this tutorial was much more complicated to write than it was to actually make this cute little holder.  Give it a try.
By the way, my tutorials are intended to give you ideas as well as a reference to details for a project.  For more guidance and information, please sign up for a class or book a workshop.  When you come to a class or workshop, you get all the help you need + everything is already prepared for your projects.  I figure out how much to order, what sizes to make, what designs to use, what projects to do, etc., etc.....  You just sit down, create and enjoy!
  
UPCOMING CLASSES AND EVENTS:

Nov. 19 / Pay to register by Nov. 17.

1:00-3:00  EVERYTHING CHRISTMAS CLASS / $25. 
(5 cards that sparkle + 5 projects - OR 2 ea. of 5 cards -  OR 10 projects!!!)

OR

3:00-6:00  CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CLASS / $35.
Make project similar to p. 36 in Holiday Mini.

TAKE BOTH CLASSES FOR $45.!!!

DECEMBER EVENTS

Dec. 5

Deadline to order Stamp Set of the Month:  CHRISTMAS LODGE.

Take SSOTM Class for ½ price!

ORDER STAMP SET + FROSTWOOD LODGE DSP (FROM HOLIDAY MINI) AND TAKE SSOTM CLASS FOR FREE!

Dec. 5

Hostess Scrapbook Club.

Dec. 11

Customer Appreciation Event and Bingo Party!!! / 2:00-5:00 / ‘No Fee’ Event.

I’ll have refreshments, a Christmas Boutique, free kits for a project (for those who RSVP) Christmas displays to enjoy and we’ll play Bingo!  Here’s hoping you win a prize!

I’ll have your Bingo Cards ready for you to stamp and will tell you how many points you’ve earned (squares to stamp) and you’ll stamp your cards when you get here.*

Dec. 12

Scraps & Prayers / 6:00-8:00 / Pay ($10.) to register by Dec. 10.

Dec. 15

Stamp Set of the Month Class:  CHRISTMAS LODGE.

6:00-8:30 / Pay ($16.) to register by Dec. 13.

½ price for those who ordered SSOTM by Dec. 5.

FREE for those who ordered SSOTM + Frostwood Lodge DSP by Dec. 5.

*REMINDER about how you earn Bingo points:

ONE POINT:

For every $25.00 you spend with me  …

(any order, including online from my website).

THREE POINTS:

When you join Hostess Scrapbook Club.

ONE POINT:

For each class you take with me.

FIVE POINTS:

For EACH workshop you host (and earns hostess benefits).