Have You Chosen Your Favorite Color Yet?

I've been waiting to hear from you.  Have you chosen your favorite new In Color yet?  Just in case you haven't, here they all are again.  This is a little display I have going in my studio.  At my Open House/New Catalog Party, everyone gets to guess what they think is my favorite.  Prizes are awaiting the lucky winner/winners.

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- 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. 

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Time to Choose Your Favorite New In Color

Alright now, I gave you a bit of time to think it over and now it's time to tell which one is your favorite new In Color.  Just to review them all, I have another card for you today, sporting cute little bows in each of our new In Colors.

My inspiration for this card came from some left-over strips of the colors that were sitting next to my Bow Builder Punch after I had finished working on another project.  I love when something just sitting there sparks an idea.  So, basically, this card was made from scraps.

Here are some larger bows (made with the Gift Bow die) for each of the new colors.

So.....  Which color did you choose?  I won't reveal my favorite one until after my New Catalog Party/Open House on June 28.  At my party, guests will have the opportunity to play along with my guessing jar game and we'll see if someone is good at figuring out the right one.  I think I had at least 2 or 3 winners last year.  I'll also have a guessing game for trying to guess my favorite new stamp set.  This is always fun to see if people can figure it out.  Winning a prize is always nice. 

Until next time, thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world.  Have a beautiful day.

Some of My July Projects, Part 4

Today's post concludes my little series on sharing some of my July projects with you.  It's a cute little gift box and it has a special surprise inside it.

This is the same gift box you saw in Part 1 of this series, but I've used it in a different way.  I cut off the top flaps, so that when the box is closed, it makes a little opening to insert your gift, and becomes more like a little, square gift bag.  I punched a hole in each side and tied a Lost Lagoon ribbon through it to create a handle for my little gift bag.

I used a bow (Lullaby DSP)  I made with our die and then added a tag (Chalk Talk) to it.  I made coordinating 'filler' for my gift bag by cutting tiny slivers of Lost Lagoon CS and then crumpling it.  I also added a piece of Lost Lagoon CS to the back, inside of my gift bag, as it shows a little through the window.  

Here's what's inside... a set of little 3 X 3" note cards. 

I've embossed the cute little bird.  It's from our Hello Love stamp set.  It's one of our new, fun Hostess stamp sets. 
I tied a Hello Honey ribbon around the set of 4 note cards.  This will make a great gift for a special someone.

... and, one more time ... here are all my projects:

Let me know if you have questions about any of the projects.  I always read and respond to all the comments left here and I love hearing from you. 

- 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.

Some of My July Projects, Part 3

Let's take a look today at another one of my July projects.  In this post, I have a cute little rectangular gift box to share with you.  This project was inspired by the cute box on page 16 of our new catalog.  

My gift box is decorated with Hello Honey and Lost Lagoon accents, with the help of the Big shot and a couple of punches.  I really liked using the Lullaby DSP for this project.  I have yet to use it for a baby themed project.  It's pretty versatile.
Tip:
It's difficult to see in the photo, but I actually have 2 layers of DSP around the middle of the box.
If you wrap your paper the way I did in this project, the lucky recipient doesn't have to tear it off to get to the treats.  (They could even reuse the box:)

I've used mailing filler again that I mentioned in a previous post, to make a good neutral filler for my gift box.  There's plenty of room to nestle in something special ...  OR ... you can take out the filler and line up a nice row of candy treats, such as peppermint patties or those little flat chocolate squares.  It holds quite a few!

Come back for my next post and I'll wrap up sharing the details for the last of my July projects with you.  The last one has a special surprise inside!

- 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.

Cash or Gift Card Holder, Part 4

As I mentioned in my last post, this version has the most unique look of all the cash, check, gift card holders that I've shared with you so far.  It's the same Winter Frost DSP, but has a really bright look to it.  This would work for Christmas or a winter birthday.  I think it's soooooo pretty! 

If you make up several at a time, you'll be ready for Christmas, parties, winter birthdays... whatever you need next.  They're pretty easy and so much fun to make!

Here are the others I've shared.  I think I'll try a Valentine's Day version next:)

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back soon for more design inspiration.  Have a great day and please, go stamp something!!!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for some stamping fun!  
Click to see my upcoming classes and events.

Cash or Gift Card Holder, Part 3

For today, another cash, check or gift card holder.  Each version has its own unique look.  Slip off the 'belly band' and open the flap to see your surprise gift inside the pocket.  I just love adding the bows to these projects.  The bows just bump up the wow factor... a lot.  You can enjoy making lots of bows by using the Big Shot to cut all of your pieces. 

Here are all 3 that I've shared with you so far.  Come back soon for a little bit more of my mini series.  The next one has a totally different look to it.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day and please, go stamp something!!!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for some stamping fun!  
Click to see my upcoming classes and events.

Cash or Gift Card Holder, Part 2

Today, I have another cash or gift card holder and this one has a pretty shine to the paper.  I made this for a customer for their gift giving this last Christmas, but it could easily work for a winter birthday.  Slip off the 'belly band' and raise the front flap to reveal the pocket inside.  You can add cash, check or a gift card.  The bow just makes it look so pretty!  I'm off to get an MRI on my knee today and then I hope to hole up in my studio and make some Valentine cards.  It snowed here again last night, so I hope it won't be too slippery for me to get around.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day and please, go stamp something!!!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for some stamping fun!  
Click to see my upcoming classes and events.

Cash or Gift Card Holder, Part 1

Do you remember when you used to shop and, at the check-out, they'd ask you:  "Cash, check or charge?"  Oh no!  This probably dates me... a lot!  Today's project could be used to hold any of these items and it brought back this shopping memory.

So... how about a little series of posts on more ideas for cash/gift card holders.  Don't forget that these can be used to hold a check, too.  Yes, some people still write checks.

The 'belly band' slips off and the front flap opens up to reveal a pocket inside --- room for cash, check or gift card.

Click here to see another version of one I made for Christmas.

Before you go, I want to insert another gift idea that I may have forgotten to mention previously.  Remember this card?  The bow is attached to a card that slips down into the 'pocket' card.  A customer ordered a gift certificate for her daughter.  I made this style of card for her and slipped the gift certificate in behind the pull-out card.  ... just another idea for you.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day and please, go stamp something!!!

Don't forget to mark your calendars for some stamping fun!  
Click to see my upcoming classes and events.

Cards with a Surprise, Part 3

Today's card is another version of the one in my previous post.  I can imagine how much fun it would be to receive a card like this, lift the flap and pull up the surprise inside it --- fun message and/or gift card!!!  I made this one for Christmas, but it could easily be adapted for most any occasion.

I love the soft colors in this color story.

Using coordinating stamps and punches makes for a quick job of adding a great tag to your card.  We have many options for other stamp/punch combinations for adapting the tag on your card.

Change out the design to use for a winter birthday by removing the ornament tag and replacing it with a birthday tag.  Did you notice that I added some scallop trim to the inside of the flap?  This really dresses up the card.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for some stamping fun!  
Click to see my upcoming classes and events.

Cards with a Surprise, Part 2

Here's another card with a surprise.  I made this one for Christmas, but it could easily be adapted for a birthday card or just a fun, special card for most any occasion.  What about a fancy invitation for a super special party?  This one has a flap that lifts up.  The bow is actually attached to the flap.

A card is attached to the inside of the flap.  When you lift up the flap, it pulls the card up so you can see the stamped or written message inside.  This could easily be adapted to include a gift card attached to this inside message card.  How special is that?

Don't forget to mark your calendars for some stamping fun!  
Click to see my upcoming classes and events.

Cards with a Surprise, Part 1

Today, I'm off on a new little series for you --- all about cards with a surprise.  Today's card is one I made for Christmas, but it could easily be converted to a birthday card.  I love how it turned out!  

The bow is actually attached to the card insert.  When you pull it up, there's room for a stamped message and a note from you.  This was made with our Winter Frost Specialty DSP and could easily be a birthday card by just changing out the stamped sentiment.  You can 'tie' on any kind of embellishment.  How about a little stamped birthday cake instead of the snowflake?

Don't forget to mark your calendars for some stamping fun!  
Click to see my upcoming classes and events.

Guessing Game, Part 3

Today, we continue my little guessing game with another card that was inspired by a previous project of mine.  One look and I'm sure you can guess how I came to be inspired for this card design, too.  This card has a special feature to it and lots of gorgeous glimmer.

Did you guess?  This card design was inspired by my Winter Frost framed project, shown in the last photo today. 

... ready... set... open...  The special feature for this design is a card that is attached to the top flap and slides up when you open the flap.  There is room below the stamped message to write a note and sign the card.  Love it!

 ... and my previous card...

Did you guess yet?  My design inspiration came from the lower left square.  Even when you design something yourself, it can still guide your design inspiration for future projects.  Fun, right?!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Come back soon for more design inspiration.

- 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.

Wrap It Up, Part 4

In today's post, I want to share some boxes and bags... for gift wrapping.  These were all made by starting with kits --- quick and easy --- and so much fun!  The long, rectangular boxes are from our big catalog and the cute little muslin bags are from our Holiday Catalog.  Here we go:

As you can see, I've also used our new Gift Bow Die for the boxes, another quick and easy way to create beautiful gift wrapping.  I've included the 2 window boxes in the photo to show you 2 ways to make the bows.  You can have 1 layer or 2 layers of loops.  I've used Liquid Tombow Adhesive to put the bows together.  You need a stronger hold on the bows, especially with the glimmer paper.

Tip:
I use little mini clamps or plastic clothespins to hold each piece together until the adhesive dries. 

I can think of all kinds of wonderful things that you could put inside all these containers.  Do you have any ideas?

Again, to make this quick and easy I used tags that were already cut.  The Pretty Presents Designer Tags come 16 in a package, so you can really do a lot of gift wrapping with them.  To bump them up a notch, I added stamped pieces that were punched out --- again, quick and easy.  I attached them with dimensionals and tied the tags onto the bag with our pretty silver ribbon.  Both stamps are from the Very Merry Tags stamp set.  This is a great set for making all kinds of fun tags for Christmas.  It's in our Holiday Catalog (p.33).

Tip:
I used a sponge dauber and inks (Cherry Cobbler, Bermuda Bay, Silver Metallic Encore Pad) to create the cute little polka dots on the bags.

- 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.