321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Christmas Countdown Calendar

Happy Veteran's Day! This project was a big hit with my customers and it was totally inspired by the amazing Paula Wright. I did change up a few things to make it easier. The biggest change was the title. Paula's was tiny die cut letters -- very cute but I knew that lining all those up and gluing them on would be a challenge. So it was My Digital Studio to the rescue. I LOVE using our digital crafting software to make custom titles, in just the color that I need (in this case Cherry Cobbler to coordinate with the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper.) Also her focal point was a cute card stock tree, but I really wanted to use the wonderful Winter Wishes felt accents that are in the Holiday Mini Catalog (item 124108). The mittens and holly look great together and the Christmas wreath is also a great match.

Magnet sheets behind each number from the great 25 & Counting stamp set is what holds each "day" to the front of the metal CD case and then they all fit inside for storage. I love using our glue sticks to attach paper to the metal tin. Everything else is glued on with the Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue (with the green top.)

The Cherry Cobbler Satin Quilted Ribbon was so perfect for a hanger -- it's so sturdy. And I love how you can flip the ribbon hanger inside the tin if you want and use a little table top decorative easel to hold your countdown calendar. Here's a peek at how the ribbon was put inside the tin, with the designer paper glued over the top with glue stick to hold it in place. Plus when the lid is on the tin, it holds the ribbon as well.

A couple of years ago Stampin' Up offered some retired CD-size packaging tins for sale -- but those are gone now so I just searched for CD size metal tins online. The images are stamped in Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green ink, punched out with the 1" Square Punch and then layered onto a Cherry or Green mat punched using the Postage Stamp Punch. That white scallop is from the Scallop Squares Duo Die for the Big Shot. These were fun to make and really not very difficult at all.

Christmas Ideas - Stampcation Style

I cannot believe what a blog stranger I have been! I've been busy with classes and workshops and life in general. I had shared some great Halloween ideas from the wonderful Stampcation event that fellow demonstrator Linda Heller and Shantaie Fowler put on in late Sept. -- now it's time for their Christmas vingette. So many great ideas. I defintely need a white sparkly Christmas tree to decorate in all handmade paper ornaments.

The tree closer up:

On the little table by the tree, the Dear Santa set from the Holiday Mini makes a great keepsake for the milk and cookies left on Christmas eve. (I would love to have had this set when my kids were younger and have them stamp a note for Santa and then write inside -- those would be great keepsakes to add to a scrapbook and look back at when they're all grown up.)

Here are some ornaments made with the Big Shot snowflake die:

Love these and how the Pillow Box used vertically becomes a little pouch to hang on the tree and hold treats or a gift card. I love scavenger hunts to make the kids find their gifts and there could be clues inside of these! The first photo has a Pillow Box pouch and a Top Note die ornament.

Not sure if you can tell the finer details of this idea, but it's a garland made by simply stitching lots of punched paper circles together with a sewing machine.

Check out this amazing advent box.

There are lots of paper mache boxes like these in craft stores this time of year and they're pretty easy to cover with Stampin' Up's Deisgner Papers for a custom home decor item. (I like using our Glue Sticks when I'm covering paper mache, notebook covers, even metal with paper. Works great).

Hope these ideas have inspired you!

Stampin Up' Cookie Stamps

Stampin' Up has introduced a new product that I love -- silicone cookie stamps just in time for the holidays. The Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps are item # 125152 and are $16.95 in the US. (Just check my online order link on the right to get your own set.) There are three designs (a snowflake, heart and jack-o-lantern) that easily snap on and off the wooden handle. I made the cookies with my daughter using the sugar cookie recipe that is included with the directions. There is also a shortbread cookie recipe included. I chilled the dough and also rolled the balls of dough in granulated sugar before baking and stamping and found that my stamp did not stick.

I've been researching other recipes that are good for cookie stamps as the secret is to have a dough that does not rise too much -- so that means no baking powder or other leavening agent. Having said that, I have heard about people having great results with cookies that rise more by stamping them AFTER they come out of the oven so you get the impression to stay in the warm cookie and not just "bake away" as it rises.

Here's a video from Stampin' Up that shows the cookie stamps in action.

 

I packaged some cookies up for a workshop hostess (hi Kym!) in one of the cute Kraft boxes from the Holiday Mini catalog (item # 124106 (4 boxes for $2.95) -- and then forgot to take a photo. The boxes are a very nice size and the cookies fit in perfectly. I put them inside one of our large cello bags first so they would stay fresh.

Enjoy stamping on cookies!

Fall Holidays Inspiration

I promised some ideas from a great stamping event I attended in Orlando in late September. It was organized by fellow SU demonstrator Linda Heller and her amazing stamping friend Shantaie Fowler. So let the eye candy begin.... first, Halloween ideas -- I love how a tag from the Two Tags Big Shot Die becomes the background for each element of the Spooky banner (such a versatile die):

Now on to Thanksgiving and many things made with the amazing Spice Cake suite of products from Stampin' Up's Holiday mini catalog, which includes paper and matching fabric. Check out the whole table:

Look at this amazing tree. Shantaie made this and click here to see more info on her blog about it.

A beautiful wreath featuring Spice Cake Fabric rosettes...

Paper strip pumpkins from Spice Cake Designer Series Paper...

And what Thanksgiving table would not be prettier with these simple cream napkins dressed up with a simple strip of Spice Cake fabric sewn on and then a matching napkin "ring" made with the paper and buttons and a die cut leaf. (those giant buttons are also part of the Spice Cake suite and available in my online store.)

So many beautiful ideas for some fall crafting!

A Top for the Fancy Favor Box

Stampin Up's Fancy Favor Box is one of my favorite die cut boxes we offer to use in the Big Shot Die Cutting machine. I love how large it is -- 3 1/2" tall; 3" wide and 2 1/4" deep (and the sides are gussetted if you want to fold on those score lines for a cute bag look instead of a box.)

At convention this summer I loved this idea to use the same die -- and then just cut off the bottom taps, flip it upside down and slide over the box for a topper with the same pretty edge as the box.

You just punch two holes and thread ribbon through to close the top edge.

Here's the display from convention so you can see how the bottom tabs were removed to make the topper.

You can always click on a photo to see it larger and the Fancy Favor bix is available using my Order Online link in the right column. It's never too soon to start thinking about Christmas!

Waving the Pennants

So have you been seeing pennants everywhere in papercrafting lately? They are the rage. I love Stampin' Up's new set Pennant Parade -- and best of all the coordinating punch that makes two different little pennant shapes. The stamps are so easy to use and the set even includes a little stand so you can turn the pennants into a Christmas tree (isn't a tree just an upside down triangle afterall?)

Here's the pennant set used a more "normal" way for a birthday card. I cased this off an idea online and forgot to record where as I always like to share the inspiration so if anyone recognizes the source please leave a comment and I'll add that in. I did add in our new mini brads on the greeting label -- they are so petite and cute when you need a smaller brad. The paper on the card is from the Just Add Cake set of designer paper.

Happy stamping -- and be sure to check out the Pennant Parade set and punch in the new catalog or my online store.

A belated Merry Christmas

Wow -- I've been a blog stranger I know but December can be like that -- so busy. Plus throw in a nasty cold mid month and time gets away from you. I hope your Christmas was wonderful. We left the warm weather of Florida behind for a nice visit with Bill's family in Tennessee so we could visit with grandma (who's 95 and still plays a mean game of Scrabble in the house where she lives all by herself -- amazing!) -- plus there was a new baby cousin to meet.

Check out what greeted us on Christmas morning -- yes, snow -- which is actually pretty rare in Tennessee. Houston and Riley got to go sledding -- big fun for two Floridians.

And this was the year that I had to go all digital for the Christmas card using Stampin' Up's great My Digital Studio software -- love how easy it is. Our summer vacation was a trip to Chicago and a step out into the sky box on the Sears Tower (I know it has a different name now but it will always be Sears to me). So of course that photo had to be our card -- and anyone who knows how much heights freak me out, knows that this was a big deal for me to get up the nerve for this family photo.

You can always click on any photo to view the image larger. Enjoy spending time with family this Christmas season and I hope you find some creative time just for you.

 

Punch Art Owl Reindeer (and he holds a gift card!)

One of the favorite events that I plan each year is my hostess and team appreciation event -- designed to thank hostesses from the past calendar year and as a perk for members of my 3-2-1 Stamp! team of demonstrators. This past week we made these cute owl cards -- he wants so much to be a reindeer and thanks to Stampin' Up's Snowflake punch, he is! Also there is a great trick with the Big Shot Two Tags die inside that makes it hold a gift card. I've got some step-by-step photos so you can follow along and make your own. Remember you can click on any photo to make it larger.

First, here are the photos of the punch card that I made for people to follow (and I'll post the written instructions below these):

Now photos of how the gift card holder was made using the Two Tags die -- it involves a fold in the paper so that you cut one end of the larger tag twice, making slots for the card. I like using a silver Sharpie marker to mark the lines on my die where I'm lining up the paper:

Here's one more close up of the owl and then the written tips:

1. Card Base & Envelope: Fold Baja Breeze Card Stock (CS) in half, then unfold and emboss the front with Northern Flurry Embossing Folder. Remember, put the right side, below the fold, against the side of the folder with the SU Logo. Stamp greeting from Contempo Christmas in Early Espresso. Use the tips of your Paper Snips to lift the self-stick Rhinestones off the sheet so you’re sure to get the glue dot -- you'll use one medium and two small ones to dress up the embossed snowflakes. Stamp envelope flap with snowflake from Winter Post in Baja Breeze ink.

 2. Two-Tags Die Gift Card Holder Insert: Fold the 5½” by 3½” Candy Cane Designer Series Paper in half. Lay it on the die about 1/8” above the fold. Do not cover the silver marks on the die. When you cut it, you’ll make two slots and two holes. Punch one edge of the 5¼” by 4 & 1/8” white CS then SNAIL down the DSP and pierce holes and insert silver brads. SNAIL to inside of card.

 3. Punch Art: Use punches upside down, with smallest Card Stock strip possible, positioning punch so you just punch the part you want. Adhere all punch shapes with Two-Way Glue EXCEPT the white part of the eyes, which are put down with Mini Glue Dots and the finished Owl, which is adhered with Dimensionals.

- Vest: Punch from DSP so stripes are horizontal.

- Nose: Punch one small red heart for nose, with eyes covering up the top of the heart.

- Body: Punch from Soft Suede then sponge edges and feet with Early Espresso ink.

- Antlers: Punch one Snowflake in Early Espresso and cut it to share with two others.

- Eyes: White for larger circle and Early Espresso for smaller. TIP: Dab 2-Way glue on center of white eye and drop smaller Espresso eye into place.

- Branch: Punch TWO Garden Green branches with Bird punch — you’ll trim one.

- SNAIL Clear Tinsel to back of owl then put a Dimensional over that and the bottom of the glued on antlers to reinforce both when you stick it on the card.

I know it's a long post but I wanted to share as many details as possible -- these really are pretty easy to make! Enjoy.

Christmas House

The Decor Accents "Design-a-House" in the Holiday Mini Catalog is all dressed up for Christmas thanks to Sue Rogers -- a long time friend and stamper who brought along this beautiful display to her Nov. Stamp Club meeting. Of course in Florida, snow blankets are about all the snow we see. And check out that spackling snow on the roof!

I love how she used the Large Silver Grommet from last year's catalog as a wreath on the front door! (You can still get these in the Clearance Rack right now -- and for just $1.49! Just follow the Order Online link to find my online store)

Here's one more view from the other side so you can see all the pretty touches. Thanks so much for sharing this Sue! 

I've shown some other Christmas versions of these houses here and you can refresh your memory about the Halloween versions here.

Stamping on Velvet

Sorry to have been such a stranger! I've been busy helping my mom, keeping our kids' busy fall schedules from driving us batty -- and of course designing stamping projects.

Years ago I took a very fun class with the wonderful Mary O'Neil, who started her own stamp company out of Nashville that focused on bold stamps suitable for fabric stamping. She also loves to emboss the stamps on to velvet -- like the design on the velvet heart seen on this card.

This was a project at my fall Big Shot die cutting class. The velvet was cut out with the Hearts & Brackets Orginals die and then here's how to emboss it. I used the floral image from the stamp set Gifts of Christmas. It's a wood-mounted set and for now I'm sticking with wood mounted stamps for this velvet embossing technique.

You need to start with synthetic velvet -- polyester acetate, nylon, etc. Mary says it can have some rayon in it as well (which is not synthetic) -- but natural cotton velvets won't work. Raid the thrift shops for some old velvet clothes you can re-purpose. I die cut the velvet heart shape first -- and then place your wood stamp on an ironing surface, rubber side up. Lay the heart with the right side of the velvet against the rubber. Spritz the back lightly with plain water. I like to cover it with a pressing cloth for protection -- then press with an iron on a wool setting, holding it in place for about 10 seconds. Don't move it around or the velvet will shift. make sure it's dry and then voila -- you'll have an image impressed into your velvet. (This will wash out but can be dry cleaned if you try this on things like a scarf or clothes.) This won't hurt the stamp as rubber is vulcanized at very high temps (but again, I'm not sure that the cling vinyl on the back of our red rubber clear mount images would like this heat, so wood mounted stamps are what I'm recommending.)

The scallop trim on the card is the Stampin' Up Deck the Halls fabric, backed with the Multi-Purpose Adhesive Sheets from the Holiday Mini catalog. Then it was die cut with the Tasteful Trim BIGZ XL die (love it!) -- and then it's just peel and stick for more texture on this simple card.