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.
What's better than free??!! If you own Stampin' Up's great digital crafting software, My Digital Studio, then the free downloads work with that -- but there are also versions that work in other programs so this is for everyone. And if you're thinking of getting MDS -- then be sure to download these freebies and you can install them in your program later!
Click here to visit the great My Digital Studio website where you'll be able to download the free items.
And here is a photo from Stampin' Up co-founder Shelli Gardner's blog so you can see a few of the downloads in action.
You can click here to read Shelli's post on this great offer.
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 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!
There is a great new hostess benefit option from Stampin' Up through December 31 -- a CD for My Digital Studio that is loaded with great Christmas Designs and projects. Here is a list of all you get.
This kit includes:
And here is a video that shows many of the projects.
The CD is just $16 in "hostess dollars" in the United States -- and a minimum hostess workshop of $150 earns you $25 in hostess dollars so you can get this CD and more.
Host a workshop by December 31 and choose this great new digital crafting CD.
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!
Be sure to read on for another great Stocking Punch idea but first I had to share the amazing deal that Stampin' Up is offering in October. A FREE Big Shot Die Cutting machine for everyone who signs up as a demonstrator! Already have one? Then you can choose $100 in free product of your choice instead! Wow!
I've loved being a demonstrator for 14 years and I love supporting the 3-2-1 Stamp team of demonstrators. The benefits of signing up are incredible:
- 20% off of every order (and 30% off your first order over $150 in the first 45 days)
- The chance to get off to a fast start and earn more free stamp sets.
- A Starter Kit worth $345 that costs just $175 and the shipping is free (even for that free added Big Shot machine or $100 in bonus stamping goodies.)
- A low $300 minimum per quarter -- with no requirement to meet that until your first full quarter as a demonstrator. So for people who sign up in October, that means you only have to sell $300 total by end of March 2012.
- You can be your own best customer and it counts toward your minimum. Of course you can also hold workshops and classes and make this a part time or full time business -- it's your choice.
Click here to learn more and you can sign up right from that information page that you'll link to on my website. If you sign up online, you're going to then choose your free Big Shot or $100 in free product after you've signed up through a special link that Stampin' Up will email you. And of course email me if you have any questions.
Now onto the card....
Last post I shared a pretty girl baby card using the great Stitched Stocking stamp set and matching punch (which of course makes great, easy Christmas cards). Today it's time for a boy version. I first saw the stocking turned upside down to become a hobby horse in a version made by the amazing Jackie Topa.
My version rests on a card that measures 3 & 1/4" by 6 & 1/2" when folded -- a nice vertical size that fits inside our Open End Envelopes. The stick for my little hobby horse is a decorative toothpick that I bought at Cracker Barrell restaurants. Colors are Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso.
A few details to note: The mane on this little horse is some dotted ribbon that's ruffled along some Sticky Strip on the back side. 1/8" Marina Mist ribbon becomes a bridle. The cute ear is the stamped and punched out heel tidbit turned on end to be an ear! I drew on the dot for the eye with an Espresso marker. The doily was cut with the Perfect Pennants die and a white 1 & 3/4" circle provides some contrast. When I was done -- it still needed a little something and that's when I added the little Early Espresso Baker's Twine bow to the stick.I also love the little greeting from Perfect Pairs (again!) that was stamped in then punched out with the Pennant punch and mounted onto the coordinating scallop punched pennant in Espresso. Then look inside and the inside greeting gets the same treatment for a nice little surprise.
Next up is some creative inspiration from Stampcation (is that not a great name for a stamping retreat?!)
