321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Movers and Shapers Box Video Tutorial

 This box has been a big hit at my Big Shot die-cutting classes. As you see this post I'm swapping these at the Stampin' Up convention and wanted to share a video tutorial so everyone can see how to make them. These hold a bunch of Hershey Nuggets and those mini size candy bars fit great also -- you can stack two rows of those on top of each other in these!

VIDEO NOTES: My 9-year-old daughter is my photographer -- and she does a great job trying to zoom in so you see great close ups -- but she moved around a lot this time so don't get dizzy -- just back up from the screen a little!

Also, very important -- as you watch the video you'll see that I go back and finish a step out of the logical order. Add the window plastic on the inside over your die cut window -- before you glue the side edge of your box "wrapper" together! Just don't want anyone to stop watching early and then have their candy fall out that hole!

I got the inspiration from Kerin's blog here -- with one change. I adjusted the bottom of the box that slides in for just a little more snug fit. So here are my measurements:

- Box bottom: 5 & 1/4" by 6" card stock, scored 7/8" from each edge
- Movers and Shapers card stock to cut window in for box "slider lid": 4 1/4" by 10" (you will lay it in the magnetic "well" of the Movers and Shapers die and then it will stretch up across the middle score line and be 1" short of the cutting line on the other end.) After cutting and embossing, this will be scored at 1", 4 & 1/2" and 9" from the short end closest to the cut out window.
- Medium weight Stampin' Up window plastic: 2 1/2" by 2 3/4" (for heart window -- size depends on the window you cut)

Supplies I used: Lavender Lace card stock; Movers & Shapers Die (item #114506); Magnetic Movers & Shapers (the heart window, item #115953); Full Heart & Heart to Heart Punches; Simply Said stamp set; Finial Press embossing folder (item #115963); Window Sheets Medium (item #114323); Organza Ribbon (item #114319)

Watch the video and it will all make sense. Enjoy!

Big Shot Matchbox Die Video Tutorial

I love Stampin' Up's exclusive Matchbox Die for the Big Shot die cutting machine. It makes the cutest little boxes. To give you an idea of the size, one box will hold four of the Hershey Nugget size chocolate bars. Or three normal size lip balms will fit inside. It's very versatile for little gifts or a set of little gift tag style cards.

The photos I'm showing are of three of the Matchboxes stacked together to make a little chest of drawers. I just glued the three sleeve-style covers together and then wrapped Designer Series Paper (in this case Good Morning Sunshine from SU) around the sleeves. The little handles for my drawers are SU Summer Sun corduroy buttons and so the brad's legs wouldn't show, I put them on before I folded down the inside end flaps so the brads are hidden between the two layers of that flap. (that will make more sense once you've watched the how-to video coming up!)

To see how easy it is to put the basic box together, there's a new video tutorial on my Stampin' Up website.  Just click here to watch it. Plus the video has some cute ideas for other ways to use this great box.

Here's a peek at what's inside my little treasure chest -- the bottom drawer has 4 little nuggets covered in pretty coordinating paper:
The middle drawer has a chocolate-dipped shortbread cookie that I brought home from the Mauna Loa macadamia nut plantation in Hawaii. That was a great stop on our Stampin' Up reward trip to the Big Island.
And the top drawer has little Macadamia Nut Hershey Kisses that just happened to be wrapped in Pacific Point blue foil that's a perfect match for the SU paper. The Mauna Loa folks send their nuts to Hershey, Penn. to have these made but they are not sold on the Mainland -- only shipped BACK to Hawaii for sale there! Too yummy and my stash from Hawaii is running low!
Finally here's a peek at the back of the little paper chest so you can get another view of that paper wrapping. I just glued as I wrapped -- easy peasy and so much fun to give as a little gift. The cute little tag was made using images from the coordinating stamp set called Matchbox Messages -- currently in the Occasions Mini Catalog through June 30.

Scrapbooking with Designer Paper

It's National Scrapbooking Month and I think our Designer Series Papers make it so easy to make beautiful memory pages and mini albums. This month, the Designer Papers are even on sale -- buy 3, get the 4th free -- so you can SHOP NOW using my link for that in the upper right corner of my blog. The special applies to any Designer Series Paper -- plus Textured 12 by 12 card stock. I want to share a great video from Stampin' Up with some wonderful ideas on using Designer Paper for your scrapbooking projects. Enjoy!

Circle Treat Holder Video Tutorial

 It's been too long since I posted so I'm back and with a video tutorial that shows how to make this cute circle treat holder that includes a little 3" square note card with a Ghirardelli chocolate square inside. It starts out with a 6 inch circle -- cut with the SU Circle Scissor then embossed with the Texturz embossing plates in the Big Shot. The video will show how to do both. Also -- I do say the measurements for things on the video -- but here they are as well. You'll see how I cut off just a tiny edge of the circle which was not embossed -- then scored 1 3/4" from that. Use that line as your horizontal guide to score 1 1/4" from each side of the circle. You'll see that concept in action when you watch the video. Enjoy!

Big Shot Embosslits & Sweet Stems Card

I wanted to share another video tutorial, this time featuring the Big Shot Embosslits, which emboss and cut out beautiful designs. Stampin' Up has several new exclusive Embosslits in the Spring/Summer 09 catalog. You'll see how I made the little stem accent on this card, which also features Kiwi Kiss Textured card stock; Rasberry Tart Designer paper that's had one edge finished with the Scallop Border Punch; the Sweet Stems stamp set on Shimmery White card stock; and the most delicious Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon that reverses to Vanilla.

You'll also see how I made this two-tone look on the Simple Flower Embosslit that highlights this card. The trick is solid designer paper so it has a white core and you can sand the embossing and reveal a little of that white. The stamp set used for this one is the Yummy set that's a free set during Sale-a-bration. Just spend $50 and you can choose it. Or how about the special edition designer paper that is the striped piece on this card -- it's also a free choice during Sale-a-bration.

Enjoy the video! If you have any questions, just send me a note and thanks for stopping by.

Big Shot Texturz - Emboss front of folded card!

It's another video! This one is a how-to for using the Stampin' Up!/Sizzix Texturz plates to emboss the WHOLE front of a folded card. It shows the way that I figured out how to be able to do this without having the embossed pattern "bleed" over onto to the back of the card. Because the Texturz plates are so large, you can emboss the front of a card that's 4.25 by 5.5 inches --  even bigger depending on where your fold is. Again, my daughter Riley is the photographer (and she's just 8) so we're working on the focusing and her zooms. And maybe next time I'll have her pan to show my face -- but the action is at the Big Shot!

Enjoy and for an intro to using the Texturz plates, just scroll down to yesterday's post for a video on that process.

New Texturz Big Shot Embossing Plates: A video tutorial!

Yes -- you read that right! I am going to attempt to post my first video tutorial. Today Stampin' Up unveiled our Spring/Summer 2009 catalog and inside are Texturz dry embossing plates for the Big Shot machine. These plates are double-sided and they make a beautiful, subtle textured design that's pressed right into the card stock. There are two sets of plates -- 3 plates in each set, double-sided so you get six designs. One set is exclusive to Stampin' Up and of course features images from our stamps! Watch the video and you'll see step by step how easy it is to use them. If you need to get some Texturz plates, use my SHOP NOW link in the right column -- and be sure to get a new Texturz silicone pad and Texturz Impressions pad the first time you get Texturz plates -- the video will show you what role those play in your Big Shot "sandwich." Let me know what you think by leaving a comment -- and feel free to ask questions. I plan more videos as it's a great way to share how-to information.