New Idea Book and Catalog Mega Blog Hop 2011

Whoo! Hoo! It's here, have you seen it? What? You haven't? Well, join me on the Stampin' Addicts blog hop of amazing blogs featuring projects with brand new stamp sets from the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.

You may have just come from Rhonda's blog featuring Polar Party--aren't they sweet?. Or, perhaps you are going backwards and came from Heidi's blog featuring Under the Big Top. Or, you may start here with me featuring Easy Events. Any way you got here is fine with me. Stay to see my projects and then head on over to Heidi's blog or continue backwards with Rhonda's. It doesn't matter, we are all in one big loop!

Any stamp set with EASY in the title seems like a good idea to me! What I love about this set is the variety--you can stamp all year with this one AND get different results each time. See that little Island Indigo (new in color) pouch? It holds...

four 3x3 cards! Easy to stamp (in Basic Black), watercolor (with aquapainter and ink pads) and add a few cutesy details (bitty buttons, baker's twine in white, and the new Lace Ribbon Border Punch). I used the 5 new In Colors. These are colors that will be around for 2 years, so get used to them--vibrant and fun! I used Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, and Pool Party for my main colors and watercolored a bit with Lucky Limemade.

To show off some versatility- I went Ho Ho Ho with the next one:

I stole the background idea from a card I got in a swap with Tonya from Tinkerin' with Ink and a stop on this hop with Dinoroar. Both the poinsettia and the top right rectangle are Bravo Burgundy, but the lighting is weird. Sorry. Kim B. (Stampin' and Stitchin' on Paper) gave me the idea to add those little creases in my flower to make it pop. Cute, huh?

Finally, I have a card that opens in a fun way, but you'll have to come back on Monday for the Tutorial on the 3x3 pouch and the Measurements of my card. Not enough room for it all!

I was going for a fall look, but in the end, I think the birdhouse just looks like the background. To do the background, add a layer of smudged Whisper White to your Early Espresso paper, wipe off excess, and then sponge some Early Espresso Classic Ink on top. Kind of gives the BRAND NEW Stripes Embossing Folder a cool look. Dontcha think?

Anyway, my time is over (until Monday), so click on her name to go to the next blog--Heidi's Running with Scissors Stamper or go backward to Rhonda's the Stampin Bunny Blog. You can also see the whole list at this post on Stampin' Addicts, a positive forum for Stampin' Up! Addicts including a knock out gallery, challenges, and tutorials. Or, you can use these great buttons made with My Digital Studio:

Happy Stamping!

Big Shot T-shirt Bling

I love wearing dressy t-shirts to work. Sometimes, ones with all the embellishments can cost more than I am willing to pay for a shirt that may get marked up by me when I am wildly teaching a concept at the white board. However, this project I made for Convention offers a simple solution--design your own.

I used my Big Shot to cut out the Fun Flowers, bunched up each middle, and hand sewed them in place. I did enough to get a little action across the V-neck. If done over (and not making 5 on a limited time frame, I would do more flowers on each. Each shirt took about an hour. Not bad. Two could get done during a movie--if I didn't sleep.

I bought my shirts at a local store with my 30% off coupon. Cut one up to make three, and tadah! I have fun clothes! At least I hope my fashion conscious middle school students think so.

Happy Crafting!

Swimming and Scrapbooking

Although, I did go swimming this past weekend, it was in lake not a pool. However, the way my 17 month old niece loves water, I am sure I'll fill this up soon of her in a pool. I just haven't gotten access to grandma's picture stash lately. I swapped this at Convention (of course) and loved what I got in return! Thanks girls!

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Stamps: Dot, Dot, Dot
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Poppy Parade
Accessories: Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Ornament Punch, 5 Petal Punch, Alphabet Simple Letters, Naturally Serif Decorative Strip Die, Big Shot, Decorative Strip Spacer Platform, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Circle Punch

How did I make those cute little fish?

First, stamp the Dot, Dot, Dot in Poppy Parade on Poppy Parade cardstock. Punch out an ornament punch from that piece. To make the tail and fins, punch a Daffodil Delight 5 petal flower and cut apart like this:

Use the double petal for the tail and two of the three other pieces for the fins. I added an eyelid to my black and white eyes by cutting a 1/2" Circle in half. Very cute and easy.

Happy Scrappin!

A Petite Pair Wedding Card

As I was creating my swaps for Convention, I needed a card that fit the theme "It's All in the Details" swap and one for an upcoming wedding.

Tadah!

Stamps: Petite Pairs, Elements of Style
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Mocha Morning Designer Series Specialty paper, Very Vanilla
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: 1" Circle Punch, Perfect Pennants Die, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Antique Brads, Modern Label Punch, Vintage Trinkets, Basic Pearls

The paper spoke to me. I had to use as many pages as I could, even though it's not my usual style. The fun details I added were the velveted (is that a word) black on suede layer, the stamped layer in the scallop from the Perfect Pennants die, and the best one--I added a pearl to the button brad to make it look as if it was set inside jewelry. That idea was so cool that it was used on Main Stage during convention! Great minds think alike!

Happy Stamping!

Lunch, anyone?

Where I work, there are no fast food restaurants to get lunch. Really, the only emergency food place is a convenience store that sells hamburgers with sell by dates two months away. Ewww. Therefore, I pack a lunch everyday. When my pal Barbara Welch set up a Fabric swap for Convention, I knew a decorated lunch bag was the way to go.

These were easy and fun to make. The first one took some figuring, but after that, life was a breeze--until my machine puked up the bobbin and assorted parts from the inside. After an emergency trip to mom, the machine got fixed. Whew! and Thanks, Mom!

A close up of two of them:

Stamps: None
Paper: None
Ink: None
Accessories: Big Shot, Fun Flowers Die, Tasteful Trims Die, Fabric Adhesive Roll, Iron, Sewing Machine, Thread, Flourettes II-Whisper White, Springtime Vintage Fabric.

I found I could make three bags out of one of our packs of fabric. Very cool. Applique has never been easier with the Big Shot. I just ironed on the adhesive backing, ran it through the Big Shot on the Die I wanted and Voila! perfectly cut pieces to add to my design. Easy.

Happy Sewing!

Simply Swamped--Simply Adorned Charm Swap

I am not a jewelry girl. But, I do like it when papercrafting mixes with jewelry. For one of my convention swaps, I made a charm for the Simply Adorned necklace. I got 8 amazing charms in return, although mine was the only snowman!

Isn't he cute?
Stamps: Snow Much Fun
Paper: Naturals White, Marina Mist
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot, Snowflake Embossing Folder, Paper Snips, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Shimmer Paint-silver, Paper Snips, 1/8" Early Espresso Ribbon

Not bad, huh? I thought of all the teachers I have and know who would love to wear a snowman around their neck instead of their clothes!

I am still on Convention Overload. I have to clean up my stamp room before I can think of unpacking and boy, is it a mess. I left it a little haphazard. Off to clean to so I can share more!

Happy Stamping!

A Beary Cute Telescoping Card

Really, I am on Stampin' Up! Convention Overload. When I process all I've learned and seen the past week, I'll let you know about it. It was 4 days of Whirlwind ups and ups and ups. Not a bad moment in the bunch!

Today, I am sharing one of my favorite cards I made for swapping.

Cute, huh? It gets even better:

This card is called a telescoping card and I followed a tutorial on my friend Lyssa's blog-Song of My Heart Stampers. Super cool!

Stamps: Under the Stars, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Earth Elements Designer Series Paper Pack,Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Island Indigo, More Mustard
Ink:  Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Island Indigo
Accessories:   3 1/2" Bigz Circle Die, Scallop Circle Die, 3" Circle Die, Scallop Circle #2  Die, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Brads, Chocolate Chip Polka Dot Ribbon, Aquapainters

I love this set and I found a fun way to use it. Actually, I made this version first:

But then realized that I was making the same fun fold as another swapper (but I had a different name for it) and switched. I don't know which one I like better!

Any way, both were fun and I am happy to share them all!

Happy Stamping!

Cherry Brown Blooms

I picked a beauty to show today, as I love these colors:

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Accessories: Pennant Cone Die, Big Shot, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Blossoms Bouquet Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade, Victoria Lace, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Vintage Trinkets

I loved this type of card forever-- called a stair step. Yet, I have yet to make one! Here is my first. I added a scallop pennant die scallop to the back stair for a little height. When this sits in it's envelope, the kind thanks looks so cute right in front of those flowers!

I am busy at convention--talk to you later!

Happy Stamping!

The Process That Leads to Greatness

It's hard in this industry (paper crafting) to come up with an original idea, or an original take on an old idea. After all, Copy Everything and Share (CASE) is encouraged. However, when the mojo comes and you create awesomeness, you must celebrate. Today is that celebration for me.

I joined a treat holder swap. Not a swap for a single dove chocolate, or a stack of M&M's, but a tangible amount of candy. I saw CANDY and I was in. Then, the fear of not being good enough comes over me and, well, I tend to get messy. Here's what Bubba encountered on my stamp table one day when he awoke:

He tried to take some of the candy, too and was quickly and tersely informed the had to wait, which he did not appreciate. He also doesn't appreaciate that creativity isn't neat and tidy. EVER.

However, out of that came this:

That's the top view--a bunch of flowers in a little flower pot. Here's the side view:

Can you even tell? I hope so. The little pot is hiding underneath my candy flowers. This would be so fun on a table for decoration!

Want to make one? Here's how:

Use the Big Shot and the Petal Cone Die to cut two petal cone die cuts from Cajun Craze cardstock. 
 Fold one in half along score line. Place the top score line at the 2” mark and score.  Repeat on other one die cut.

 


Cut along the score line to cut the tab off and along the petal score line to your new line.  Repeat on other die cut.
Cut the bottom off each point on both die cuts 

 Place Sticky Strip on the tabs and across one bottom tab.
Adhere a tab to the tabless side of the other die cut to create sides of clay pot.
Fold the ends over each other to create a secure bottom.

Cut foam for inside of clay pot. I found thin circles that I cut into two square layers. I also used part of a cone that I cut into sections.

FLOWERS

1.       Cut out the tri-flowers with the Island Floral Bigz Die to create leaves. Crimp using paper crimper.

2.       Cut out various flowers with the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die from Designer Series Paper to create leaves.

3.       Layer flowers and leaves and stick a lollipop through the center. I used my paper snips and crop-a-dile to widen the holes if needed.

4.       Place flowers into the foam. I used 5 flowers per set.

BUTTERFLIES/CATERPILLARS

1.       For the butterfly, scrunch a square pack of candy (I used Sugar babies) in the middle with a twist. I used florist tape to adhere to the lollipop stick. I also added a smarties with glue dots.

2.       Use glue dots to adhere a chain of jawbreakers to create a caterpillar. Use glue dots to adhere to the lollipop stick.

3.       I stamped with Rich Razzleberry my sentiment and folded it around the stick. I added layered flowers for fun.

Happy Stamping!