Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Coupon Book for Any Occasion

Merry Christmas to all of my followers!  I would like to wish each of you a wonderful holiday and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!
If you are in need of a quick idea to keep your kids (and/or spouse) in the holiday giving spirit, these coupon books could work some magic for you. They are so easy to create and only take a 10-15 minutes to create a few at once. I got this  creative idea from Sarah Willis at Sarah's Ink Spot. Check out her awesome directions and template here.
I made a few for a Craft Fair and a few for my kids to give to their grandparents this Christmas. All they had to do was write in what they were willing to do to help their grandparents out when they visit them. I know my parents will love the kind thoughts from the kids and love seeing that they took the time to think about them in a special way. Enjoy your holiday and I hope you are able to find some time for crafting this holiday season!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Family Movie Night in a Box and Reindeer Cocoa Cone

In need of some quick teacher or coworker gifts?  These Family Movie Night gift boxes and Reindeer Cocoa Cones made for some great teacher gifts this year.  I found the idea for the Reindeer Cocoa Cones on Pinterest.  See Mommy's Kitchen blog for directions on how to make these wonderful gifts up quickly.  For the Family Movie Night gift boxes, I used Stampin' Up!'s Extra Large Gift Boxes and the Festive Flurries Snowflake Ornament Kit to decorate the Kraft boxes.  I used the gift boxes so the teachers could reuse them for wrapping up their own holiday gifts to give or to reuse the Snowflake Ornament as a package topper or an ornament on their tree.  Inside the gift boxes, I included 3 bags of Movie Theater Butter Popcorn, some movie candy, Reindeer Cocoa Cones in Milk Chocolate and in Dark Chocolate (not knowing the teacher's family preferences), and a Redbox gift card.  Since these preschool teachers give so much of their time and energy every day, I wanted them to enjoy a special night with their own families.  The teachers loved their gifts and look forward to a relaxing night with their families to enjoy all the goodies in the Family Movie Night boxes.
Family Movie Night Gift Box
Extra-Large Kraft Gift Box with Festive Flurry Snowflake Ornament as a box topper
Close up of Festive Flurry Snowflake Ornament
For the director, assistant director and music teacher of the preschool, I made a box of all occasion cards, Reindeer Cocoa Cones, and gave them a gift card to Starbucks or Target.  I packaged the gift cards using Stampin' Up!'s Muslin Bags and used a template to sponge the designs onto the bags using Stampin' Up! ink and sponge daubers, plus I added some bling with the Rhinestone Jewels and some ribbon at the end of the muslin bags.  To make the template I used to sponge onto the muslin bags, I used a scrap piece of card stock and cut out snowflakes using the Festive Flurry Framelits Dies or punched out an ornament shape using the Mosaic Punch.  Just another quick and easy way to dress up your gift and a great way for the recipient to be able to reuse for their own holiday gifts.  A two for one gift!
Muslin Bag as Gift Card holder and Reindeer Cocoa Cone
Muslin Bag decorated with Mosaic Punch as a template
Occasion Card Set and Reindeer Cocoa Cone Gift
To add a quick gift tag, I helped my daughter stamp a reindeer or tree and the "to and from" from the retired No Peeking stamp set and "have a holly jolly christmas" message from the retired Christmas Punch stamp set.  My kids always make a holiday treat bag for their classmates so my daughter attached these adorable gift tags to her treat bags.
Teacher's Gift Tag
Reindeer Gift Tag
Tree Gift Tag
Completed Gift Tags for Classmates' Treat Bags
I hope you were able to get some quick and easy gift ideas.  Good luck in the next week preparing for the holidays and remember to enjoy the season!

Ingredients:

  • Stamps:
    • (retired) No Peeking (one of my favorite holiday stamp sets ever!)
    • Christmas Punch
  • Paper:
    • Whisper White card stock - cut out with the Top Note BS die
  • Ink: 
    • Coastal Cabana and Wisteria Wonder for Muslin Bags
    • Gumball Green and Primrose Petals for Gift Tags
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • Festive Flurries Snowflake Ornament Kit
    • Festive Flurry Framelit Dies
    • Mosaic punch
    • Muslin Bags
    • (retired) Pool Party and Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon
    • Sponge Daubers
    • Rhinestone Jewels
    • Extra-Large Gift Box (comes in a set of 3 and is food safe)
    • (retired) Real Red Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon for the Reindeer Cocoa Cones




Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Memory Tree using Stampin' Up! Products

I had to make a Memory Tree for my friend's Memorial Service this week. We wanted something that people could write down a memory of our friend and still look nice. So we decided to use white twigs in a tall glass vase filled with stones at the bottom to hold the twigs in place.


I was stuck when I began to attach some paper doves and paper hearts to the twigs. Thank goodness I had plenty of Stampin' Up! Craft supplies on hand. I decided to use some Stampin' Up! White Baker's Twine and some (retired) Stampin' Up! natural clothespins to attach the doves and hearts to the white twigs. The clothespins helped the paper doves and paper hearts stay in place, keep them separated from each twig, and allow for 4 doves or hearts to be held together by one clothespin.  I love how it turned out!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas Card


“It’s beginning to look like Christmas” at least in my craft room!  This time of year always keeps me busy with preparing for Craft Fairs, holiday Stamp-A-Stack classes, teacher gifts and holiday cards of my own to finish. 
This card came together quickly once I had my color choices.  As usual I choose my color combination from the DSP I decided to use which made my card so much easier to put together.  I colored the presents stamp with markers alternating between Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive before stamping on the piece of Whisper White card stock.  I chose to stamp the image all the way to the left of the card stock so there would be room for the DSP banners on the right.  I added the greeting in Cherry Cobbler in the center of the card stock at the bottom.  I decided to use the Stylish Stripes embossing folder on the Crumb Cake layer to add some dimension to my card.  Since you can barely see it behind the Whisper White card stock layer, it adds just a touch of dimension without being too much.  Finally, I adhered all the layers together, added the DSP banners on the right, added the tiny stamped presents on top of scallop circles already punched out in Old Olive, and added rhinestone jewels to the bows of the tiny presents to add some shine to my card. 
Close up of banners and tiny presents
Ingredients
·         Stamps:
o    Wishing You
·         Paper:
o   Whisper White 3 ½” x 4” and scraps for punch
o   Crumb Cake card stock 4 “ x 5 ¼”
o    Cherry Cobbler card stock 4 ½” x 11” (scored at 5 ½”)
o   Old Olive scraps for punch
o   Season of Style DSP 1” x 4” and ¾” x 3 ½” – cut like a banner at the bottom
·         Ink:
o   Cherry Cobbler marker and ink pad
o   Old Olive marker
·         Tools and Accessories:
o   ½” Circle Punch
o   7/8” Scallop Circle Punch
o   Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder
o   Rhinestone Jewels
o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thank You Gift in a Mini Muslin Bag

My daughter's preschool celebrates their preschool teachers a few times a year...Thanksgiving, Christmas, February, and at the end of the year.  At Thanksgiving, the Preschool Parent Association organizes a Cornucopia of Thanks.  A time for preschoolers and parents to tell the teachers how much they appreciate them in a small way.  It could be a homemade card or picture, a gift card or something off the teacher's favorites list.  One of the parent volunteers decorates the basket for the teachers and places it in the hallway for the preschoolers and parents to put their special thank you for the teachers.
Close Up of stamped images...I LOVE this look on the muslin bags!

Every year I decorate the baskets and always include a special treat from my little preschooler.  This year I decided to use the mini muslin bags from Stampin' Up! to make a special gift card holder.  The mini muslin bags made it so easy for me this year!  I stamped the Magnificent Maple stamp in the middle of the mini bag and stamped a Thanks So Much image on the bottom of the bag.  I just LOVE how the stamped images look on the mini muslin bags!  Then, I added some ribbon to the mini bag's pull and placed a tag through the ribbon as well.  Finally, I added a Starbucks gift card to each Thank You bag since both teachers like coffee.  What an easy and simple way to dress up a gift card this holiday season!


Ingredients
·         Stamps:
o   Magnificent Maple
o   Oh, Hello - "Thanks So Much" greeting only
·         Ink:
o   Calypso Coral
o   Early Espresso
·         Tools and Accessories:
o   3/4" Chevron Calypso Coral Ribbon
o   Mini Muslin Bags

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Burlap and Maple Leaves Card



Once I got started with the Magnificent Maple stamp set, I couldn’t stop creating.  Fall is my favorite time of year so to create cards with different color combinations using the maple leaf stamp made me a happy girl.  For this card, I decided to use the color combination of Crushed Curry, Midnight Muse, Old Olive and Raspberry Ripple.  Even though there are no blue maple leaves, Midnight Muse added just the right contrast for this card.  That is one of the things I love about paper crafting…You can create things that may not be reality but looks so good together on paper.
Close up of frayed burlap edges before greeting is attached
I decided to add the 1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon the length of the card and fray the edges of the burlap ribbon to give it a worn look.  This was so easy to do.  All you have to do is pull a piece of string on the edge you cut from the ribbon.  It will start to fray a bit and look worn.  If you don’t think it looks frayed enough, you just keep pulling a piece of string off the end of the ribbon.  Add your greeting with a few punches in contrasting color card stock and you’re done!
Close up of greeting and punches on top of burlap ribbon
Ingredients
·         Stamps:
o    Magnificent Maple
o   Four You
·         Paper:
o   Very Vanilla 4” x 5 ¼” and scraps for punch
o   Midnight Muse card stock 4 ½” x 11” (scored at 5 ½”) and scraps for punch
o   Raspberry Ripple scraps for punch
·         Ink:
o   Crushed Curry
o   Midnight Muse
o   Old Olive
o   Raspberry Ripple
·         Tools and Accessories:
o   1 ¼” Burlap Ribbon
o   Artisan Label Punch
o   Small Oval Punch
o   Stampin’ Dimensionals

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

A Magnificent Time of Year

I LOVE fall!  It is a magnificent time of year.  The leaves are changing colors, the weather begins to get cooler and we are able to remember the many things we are thankful for during the year.

The Magnificent Maple stamp is a great example of this time of year.  It can be used in many ways...as a background stamp, as a focal point on a card or as an addition to a gift tag or bookmark.  I decided to CASE a Thank You card by Jill Coleman.  To visit her card, please click here.  The first card is a CASE of her card with a different Thank You stamp set.  The second card is what I thought my Club members would enjoy as a Thank You card, a fall birthday card or a Thanksgiving card with a change in colors, arrangements of the maple leaves, ribbon and the Thank You greeting moved to the top of the card.  I had so much fun creating these cards and playing with new color combinations.  Give it a try for yourself!
CASE card with a different Thank You stamp set
New Magnificent Maple card with a change in placement of the leaves, ribbon, greeting and new color combo
Close up of greeting at the top of the card
Close up of Gorgeous Grunge on maple leaves
Close up of color combo - Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Rich Razzleberry


Ingredients:

  • Stamps:
    • Gorgeous Grunge
    • Lots of Thanks
    • Magnificent Maple
  • Paper:
    • Very Vanilla card stock (both cards)- 3 7/8" x 5"
    • Crumb Cake card stock (card #2) or Early Espresso (card #1) - 4" x 5 1/4"
    •  Rich Razzleberry card stock (card #2) or Pool Party (card #1) - 4 1/4" x 11" scored at 5 1/2"
  • Ink:
    • Bermuda Bay
    • Crumb Cake
    • Crushed Curry
    • Early Espresso
    • Rich Razzleberry
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • 7/16" Natural Trim (card #1)
    • 1/8" Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon (card #2)
    • Stampin' Dimensionals

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Paper Doily Card

I decided to use a paper doily as the focal point for stamping.  I usually use a paper doily as a layer on my cards and projects but decided to try something new.  I love how it turned out!

The Afternoon Picnic DSP allowed me to chose the color combination quickly.  The Creative Elements stamp set gave me great detailed images to use on the paper doily.  Adding the butterfly from Papillion Potpourri in Coastal Cabana and popping it up with a dimensional gave the card just the right "pop" in color against the DSP background layer.  All I had left to do was add a quick greeting in Wisteria Wonder to tie in all the colors from the DSP.  I will definitely be stamping onto the paper doilies and using them as a focal point more often.
Close up of paper doily as a focal point of card
Ingredients:
  • Stamp Sets: 
    • Creative Elements
    • Label Love
    • Papillion Potpourri
  • Paper:
    • Very Vanilla (4 1/4" x 11"; scored at 5 1/2") and scraps for Artisan Label
    • Afternoon Picnic DSP (4" x 5 1/4")
  • Ink:
    • Coastal Cabana
    • Daffodil Delight
    • Pear Pizzazz
    • Wisteria Wonder
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • Paper Doilies
    • Artisan Label punch
    • Bitty Butterfly punch

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Quick Halloween Tags


Every holiday my kids make treat bags for their classmates.  These treat bags are filled with things like pencils, erasers, notepads, stickers, crayons, puzzles and playdough.  My kids make an assembly line and put all the items in their treat bags.  Then, they stamp an image, punch it out, attach it to another piece of punched out card stock, and sign their names to the tags.  The kids adhere it to the treat bags with glue dots, dimensionals or baker's twine.  Here's a look at the Halloween tags my kids made for their treat bags:
To/From stamped in Whisper White Craft ink on Basic Black Scallop Circle Punch
Batty for You stamped images in Basic Black ink and backed with Basic Black card stock
Choose the marker or pen that works best for you.  Chalk Marker used on left and uni-ball Singo Gel Pen used on right.
1" x 8" Cellophane Bags used for holiday pencils and erasers
Pencil treat bags with tags
Pencils, erasers, notepads, puzzles and playdough treat bags with tags attached with baker's twine

Trick or Treat image from Tags 4 You stamp set can be used to make a tag for treat bags instead.
Ingredients:

  • Stamp Sets: 
    • Tags 4 You or Batty for You (retired)
  • Paper:
    • Tangerine Tango
    • Basic Black
  • Ink:
    • Basic Black
    • Whisper White Craft Ink or use a Chalk Marker instead
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • 1" x 8" Cellophane Bags
    • 1 3/8" Circle punch
    • 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch
    • Label Bracket punch
    • Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine (retired)

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Chalk Talk/Backyard Basics Quick and Easy Card

I have been dying to use the new 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon so I had to come up with a card layout that could use a little bit of it.  I wanted a simple but all occasion card that I could use for any birthday, thank you or any time I needed to drop a line to a friend.
To make things easier, I used one of the notecards from the Note Card & Envelopes set that you can purchase from SU.  The cards are already pre-cut and pre-scored so all you have to do is create your masterpiece on top of this card base.  I started with a 4 3/4" x 3 1/4" Crumb Cake layer which I embossed using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  Then I stamped the "I'm so grateful THERE'S YOU in the world" greeting from the Chalk Talk stamp set in Calypso Coral ink on Whisper White card stock and punched it out using the Extra-Large Oval Punch.  I added it to a Calypso Coral card stock layer and cut it out using the Chalk Talk Framelits.  Next, I cut a small piece of the Burlap Ribbon, created a little loop with the ribbon and adhered it to the back of the Calypso Coral layer with a glue dot.  I attached it to the Crumb Cake layer using double dimensionals to make sure it stood out.  I added Pearl Jewels to the Chalk Talk Framelit/Calypso Coral piece and added a bird in Island Indigo from the Backyard Basics set to complete the card. 

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to make a group of cards, the Note Cards & Envelopes set is a great addition to your crafting collection.  Stampin' Up! just announced that they will begin selling pre-cut and pre-scored card stock in several basic colors to help crafters especially during the holiday card making time.  It's called Cut & Ready Card Bases and you can see the d below to learn more.

Ingredients:
  • Stamp Sets: 
    • Backyard Basics (for the bird only) 
    • Chalk Talk
  • Paper:
    • Note Card & Envelopes (cards are 5" x 3 1/2" - a bit smaller than I usually create with)
    • Crumb Cake card stock - 4 3/4" x 3 1/4"
    • Whisper White card stock - scraps used for stamped images
    • Real Red card stock - scrap
  • Ink:
    • Calypso Coral
    • Island Indigo
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • Extra-Large Oval punch
    • Backyard Basics Framelits (for bird only)
    • Chalk Talk Framelits
    • Woodgrain Embossing Folder
    • 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon
    • Pearl Jewels
Cut & Ready Card Bases Details...
Each Card Base package contains:
  • 20 pre-scored, pre-cut cards in one color 
  • Each card measures 5-1/2" x 8-1/2"-scored at 4-1/4". Finished card size is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2". (Card Bases are packaged flat.)
Description Item Number Price
Whisper White Cut & Ready Card Bases   135804 $4.95
Very Vanilla Cut & Ready Card Bases   135805 $4.95
Crumb Cake Cut & Ready Card Bases   135806 $4.95
Smoky Slate Cut & Ready Card Bases  135807 $4.95
Cherry Cobbler Cut & Ready Card Bases  135808 $4.95
Old Olive Cut & Ready Card Bases  135809 $4.95
Pool Party Cut & Ready Card Bases  135810 $4.95




Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Daydream Medallions and Tags 4 You Card

With autumn finally here, I'm beginning to feel the holidays quickly approaching so I thought I would begin creating some holiday cards.  I wanted to make a holiday card that would use Bermuda Bay since this color just pops off the page.  By stamping two of the medallions from the Daydream Medallions stamp set in Smoky Slate and Bermuda Bay, it allowed me to make the medallions look like a snowflake or ornament in the middle of the Whisper White card stock.  I added some Silver 1/8" Ribbon and a bow created with the same ribbon along with the "Holly Jolly Christmas" greeting from Tags 4 You to make it look like part of an ornament hanging from the top of my card.  I added this stamped layer to a Winter Frost DSP layer and a Bermuda Bay card base to finish the card.  I hope you enjoy this simple holiday card done without using a holiday stamp set!
Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate and Whisper White color combo + Daydream Medallions and Tags 4 You stamp sets =            a quick and easy holiday card with some "pop"
Close up of the greeting popped up to add to the look of an ornament hanging from the top of the card.

Ingredients:

  • Stamps: 
    • Daydream Medallions 
    • Tags 4 You
  • Paper:
    • Bermuda Bay card stock: 4 1/2" x 11" (scored at 5 1/2")
    • Whisper White card stock: 4" x 5"
    • Winter Frost Designer Series Pack: 4" x 5 1/4"
  • Ink: Bermuda Bay and Smoky Slate ink pads
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • Label Bracket punch
    • Silver 1/8" Ribbon
    • Rhinestone Jewels
    • Stampin' Dimensionals

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Truly Grateful and Blessings from Heaven Card

A friend of mine is in need of some cheering up and lots of prayers so I sat down to create a card that would let her know that I was thinking of her. With cooler weather and the start of fall, I decided to use the Truly Grateful stamp set and add the Blessings from Heaven greetings stamp set.
I decided to make this card a little bit different.  The Crumb Cake base layer is cut 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" and then I added a 5" x 7 1/2" (scored at 3 3/4") So Saffron layer which opens up like a regular card.  I stamped the hay in So Saffron a few times on my 4 1/2" x 3 1/4" Very Vanilla card stock and added an acorn in Crumb Cake at the top left corner.  Finally, I added a tiny Bermuda Bay button with Linen Thread tied in a bow and added an appropriate saying in Bermuda Bay cut out with the Large Oval punch and backed with a Bermuda Bay Curly Label punch.  I love how the Bermuda Bay color pops on the So Saffron and Crumb Cake card!
Ingredients:
  • Stamps: 
    • Truly Grateful
    • Blessings from Heaven
  • Paper:
    • Crumb Cake card stock: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
    • So Saffron card stock: 5" x 7 1/2" (scored at 3 3/4")
    • Very Vanilla card stock: 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"
  • Ink: Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake and So Saffron ink pads
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • Large Oval Punch (to punch out the wording) 
    • Curly Label Punch
    • Brights Designer Buttons
    • Natural Linen Thread
    • Stampin' Dimensionals

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

WAHOO! Paper Pumpkin Kit

This month's Paper Pumpkin kit includes a stamp set that says "WAHOO!  YOU DID IT!"  The sketch and layout that came with this month's kit looks like this:
Card #1: Original Card Sketch and Layout from September's Paper Pumpkin Kit
This is how the Paper Pumpkin kit comes.  In a bright Calypso Coral colored box!
Supplies included in this month's Paper Pumpkin kit - card bases, WAHOO! and YOU DID IT! stamps, index card die cut pieces, DSP printed arrows, Naturals Desiger buttons, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Midnight Muse stamping spot and dimensionals.

This month's Paper Pumpkin card is not my favorite but I always make the first item to look like the sketch in case I may like it more once I've made it.  Then, I begin creating new items using the items from the Paper Pumpkin kit and other stamp sets and accessories that I have.  Below you will find two more cards using pieces of the kit and other items I had on hand.
Card #2 (Paper Pumpkin supplies used only):  Used part of the index card die cut that was left over to sponge a design in Summer Starfruit on the front of the card and then stamped the word "WAHOO!".  Added Naturals Designer Button, Whisper White Baker's Twine and DSP printed arrows from Paper Pumpkin kit.
Card #3 (my FAV): I used the inside of the card (the part without the target printed on it).  Added the bicycle and wording from the stamp set "Cycle Celebration".  Added DSP printed arrows from Paper Pumpkin kit and the Whisper White Baker's Twine in a box.  Then, added Candy Dots Brad Bases in the spokes of the bicycle wheels and Old Olive Candy Dots on top.
If you like the idea of getting a kit sent to you with all the supplies you need to create a set of 4 cards, some home decor or a 3-D item, you should check out the Paper Pumpkin kits today.  For more details, please visit the Paper Pumpkin website by clicking here.  Please contact any of the bakers if you are interested in signing up to start receiving your very own Paper Pumpkin Kit today!

Ingredients (Paper Pumpkin kit for September used):
  • Stamps: 
    • WAHOO! YOU DID IT! from September's Paper Pumpkin kit (card #1 and #2) 
    • Cycle Celebration (card #3)
  • Paper:
    • Crumb Cake card base with target image already printed on the front: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" (scored at 4 1/4")
    • Whisper White card stock cut out in an index card shape: 3 1/4" x 2"
  • Ink: Midnight Muse stamp spot (from Paper Pumpkin kit) and Garden Green, Raspberry Ripple, and Summer Starfruit ink pads
  • Tools and Accessories:
    • Whisper White Baker's Twine (from Paper Pumpkin kit)
    • Naturals Designer Buttons (from Paper Pumpkin kit)
    • DSP printed arrows (polka dot and striped arrows from Paper Pumpkin kit)
    • Candy Dots Brad Bases (card #3 only)
    • Candy Dots - Brights (card #3 only)
    • Stampin' Dimensionals