321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Box in a Bag with a Paper-saving Twist

I loved this little box in a bag the minute I saw the great tutorial by SU demonstrator Diana Gibbs on the Splitcoast site -- which I will link you to in a bit. But when I read the measurements, I felt sure I could tweak it just a little to save some paper. Because the original box that's hidden inside the bag started with a 4 1/2" square -- I thought "why not just make it 4 1/4 -- then I'd get 4 squares out of a standard 8 1/2" by 11" piece of card stock? I then adjusted the measurements for scoring. So when you check out this photo tutorial on Splitcoast -- make these adjustments:

- Start with a 4 1/4" card stock square for the box
- Score 7/8" from each of the 4 edges (that's INSTEAD OF the 1" in Diana's version) Guess what? Now your box is the same size and you get more of them out of one piece of card stock.
- I also adjusted the size of the printed Designer Series Paper that's wrapped around the box to make the bag. Mine is 6" by 10 1/2".
- And I adjusted the size of the strip that's around the bottom of the box/bag. Mine started as 1 1/4" by 10 1/2" and then one long edge was punched with SU's Scallop Border Punch (item # 112091) which then makes it a little narrower.

I made another adjustment to save a little money -- and that's to not use the more expensive, heavy duty Sticky Strip adhesive for every step of assembly. Here's what I did that's different than the tutorial link:
- I used the Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (item # 110755) to put the box together instead of sticky strip. I like how this liquid glue is "forgiving" if you need to adjust your flaps a little -- and it's a quick hold.
- I did use Sticky Strip (SS) on the bottom edge and one side edge of the large piece of Designer Paper that makes the bag. You need a strong hold -- and this is less messy than a liquid glue. Just be warned -- you need to wrap straight and neat as with Sticky Strip, once it's stuck -- it's stuck!
- I found I did not need SS on the bottom border piece -- instead I just ran the less expensive SNAIL adhesvie tape down the scalloped paper border (2 rows -- yes, all the way around) -- and then wrapped that around my bag/box and it held just fine.

All  my seams meet in the middle back -- just like Diana's pretty bag. Mine are embellished with a big silk flower from SU 's Pretties kit that was rubbed with pastels.

I love the tabs punched with the SU ROund Tab punch (item # 108340) as those provide a great place to punch a hole and thread ribbon through -- plus the tab on the back side hides the top of the seam in case your paper does not meet perfectly even there. You'll appreciate that little bonus once you make one.

These are so easy to make -- and like I said, instead of duplicating Diana's great photo tutorial at the link above, just follow that and use my paper saving and adhesvie saving tips if you'd like.

I did use the great Designer Papers that were free from SU demonstrators during our Sale-a-bration event in Feb. and March -- so if you have some of that Delicate Dots paper left you can make your's just like these. Otherwise any of our beautiful Designer Papers will do!! Enjoy -- and have fun saving paper and making even more of these.

You're Never to Old to be Goofy!

I try to prove this everyday! When you're an older mom of younger kids -- you have to stay a little goofy. I got this card idea because someone shared that at Stampin' Up's recent Hawaii Regional training event someone had made a similar card. I think they used some fancy brads as the hula top -- but I thought the Trio flower punch was just perfect. And the card I saw used a different saying -- but this greeting from our Smarty Pants set seemed the right choice. The bear is from Under the Stars. His grass skirt is punched from Kiwi Kiss card stock using the large oval punch -- and with a little trimming he's ready to hula. The paper is Rasberry Tart.

My customers have loved this card! I attached the flowers with mini glue dots -- but someone suggested that using our foam Dimensionals would make him "a little more endowed" -- now see, that's thinking goofy.

So do something goofy today! Enjoy.

Easter Fun with a Spin

This Easter card designed by the creative Stampin' Up corporate designers and shared  in our demonstrator magazine Stampin' Success has really made the rounds in cyberspace. I've seen variations of it everywhere online! For mine I used the Animal Crackers stamp set just as SU did, but I added in the cute wheel from the Occasions mini catalog called Egg Hunt. It's nice tone-on-tone addition to the Certainly Celery card stock on the bottom of the card. My image is colored in quickly using some Watercolor Crayons and a Blender Pen.

Because this card has a surprise greeting when you pivot up the top layer from behind the Eyelet Border Punched Edge -- you need to use a brad (or you could substitute an eyelet set loosely enough that the paper can pivot.) I also added in an SU FLower brad in So Saffron. The card base is Perfect Plum then Pale Plum is the top layer.  The Easter Wishes greeting inside is from the set All Holidays.

I love this card layout and can see it used with other stamp sets and other occasions very easily.

Fifth Avenue Flowers and Manhattan Embossing Folder

We used these two items at my March stamp clubs right before the Hawaii trip and so many people fell in love with the Fifth Avenue Flowers set and the coordinating new embossing folder for the Big Shot that they NEEDED their own. We made this pretty card using Basic Gray card stock as the base. The greeting is from the set Sincere Salutations and it's stamped on Shimmery White card stock and then punched out with the Wide Oval Punch. Every greeting in that set fits on here -- so can't you just see a set of these cards in different colors with different greetings? The black mat on the greeting is made using the SU Exclusive set of Sizzlet dies called Lots of Tags. The ribbon is white taffeta. Then look inside and you'll see a white card stock panel stamped with the matching Fifth Avenue set and of course we stamped on the envelope flap to match this pretty pattern in shades of gray and black ink.

I wanted to share some more ideas using the Fifth Avenue Floral stamps and the Manhattan Flower embossing folder (especially since so many of my great customers now own them and I want you to use them a lot!) These pictures below are all samples that were posted in the Hospitality Suite on the Hawaii reward trip. I don't know who made these because we don't see the demonstrator names on the back -- but thanks to everyone who shared their beautiful work. And of course you can shop online at my SHOP NOW link in the upper right to get your own pretty stamp set and embossing folder shipped right to you! Enjoy the beautiful cards below and see you next time!





 

Occasions Mini Catalog Samples

This new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalog is pure delight -- it's just filled with so many great things that help us make wonderful hand made cards and gifts to stay connected with others. And how cool is it that SU is even offering a "Get Connected" special throughout April. Spend $40 on any products in the Occasions Mini Catalog (even the great new exclusive Matchbox Big Shot Die!) and you can choose any item from the under $10 page in the SU big Idea Book & Catalog (that's page 208).

On the recent SU Hawaii reward trip, there were some very cute ideas shared using Occasions products so I'm just going to throw out a bunch of photos and let you feast your eyes! Like that first photo -- who knew that the Matchbox would hold three lip balms all dressed up with Designer Paper?! And look how cute the new printed Window Sheets are when used to make the sliding box cover!

Any questions about something you see, just post a comment and I'll post answers. And remember that you can shop online for these great SU products anytime by clicking on the link at the top right of my blog. Enjoy the eye candy -- and be sure to check out the baby socks that fit in the Matchbox -- and the last photo in today's post!






Had to end with a comment on this last one -- the designer paper is scalloped and then folded and attached so that it pops out as if it's an awning over a flower shop window! How cute is that? I'll post more samples from the shares in Hawaii next time.

I'm Back with a Pretty Box & a Pretty View!

Sorry to have been such a stranger! March was a busy with month with lots of stamping events and then I had to pack for the Stampin' Up reward trip to Hawaii. I know, I know...tough work. That's why I love this job! Thanks to eveyone who played a role in us earning this great trip. The shuttle mission kept my husband from going at the last minute so the kids and I plowed on anyway and had a great time hanging out in Hawaii and spending lots of fun time with my friend, SU demonstrator Barbara Lash from Mass., and her husband Jack. The photo is of all of us at the Big Island's southern tip on the way to the volcano. Hawaii was just gorgeous and so relaxing.

I wanted to share a pretty box I made with one of my favorite Big Shot dies available through Stampin' Up! -- Box #2. This box is so versatile! It will hold 12 Hershey nuggets and I packed in lots of Dove chocolates and a small rubber stamp in the ones I gave away recently as stamp club hostess gifts. I used the heavier weight specialty Designer Paper called Parisian Breeze -- love the added texture and the heavier cover weight. It's just perfect for Big Shot boxes. I told my customers that this box pattern is one I'll be using for years -- count on seeing it at my daughter's wedding as a favor box! It's 3 & 3/4" from side to side, 2" tall and 1 & 3/8" deep (meaning from back to front). And I love the top flap which is reclosable!

This one was embossed after cutting it out with the Fifth Avenue Floral set and Choc. Chip Craft ink and clear embossing powder. All it took were a few images for it to look really dressed up once it was put together. Some chocolate stitched ribbon and an image from the great level 2 Hostess set A Little Somethin' finished it off. I put my ribbon around the top -- but put your ribbon around it from side-to-side and you could even open and close it with ease.

And look -- all it takes to put it together is this one tiny little piece of Sticky Strip on the side flap! The bottom flaps just pop into place. Another reason I love this box is it's cost-effective to make a bunch! I got the idea to dress these up with some extra stamping right on the printed Designer Paper from Stampin' Up! CEO and Co-Founder Shelli Gardner. Click here to see the great gift boxes for her daughters that she made with this die at our SU Leadership event back in January.

One more photo of the little box open so you can see that great flap (and a peek at the other side of that gorgeous paper.) You seriously need this die!!! It's a keeper that will be a go-to die for years to come when I need a little treat. More very soon!!