More Wandering Words - Top note box

Ok, ok, ok - I cased Becky Roberts again. This time I used the thankful stamp from the Wandering words stampset. Instead of a tag or a card I made a top note box. I am going to give this to my mother-in-law today (Thanksgiving). I put in two mini bags of M&M's).

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Getting ready for Valentines Day

This card we will make at my January craft night.

Front view of milk carton

Back View of Milk Carton

I have been working on my crafts for my January craft night. I needed to do this for two reason; 1 - is that I needed a break from all of the Christmas projects & 2 - I try to plan a month ahead so that I can make sure I have enough supplies on hand.

So far I have planned for the group to make two 3-D projects, a card using the Sweet Centers heart and lastly I knew I wanted to use the Mailbox with hearts floating out of it from the Wandering Words stamp set (found in the Holiday mini catalog.)


I find such joy in Valentines day. I had fun planning the Halloween projects but Valentines day just makes me happier. Maybe its the colors. I love the new in color - Mambo Melon, Real Red and Regal Rose.


After I made Wandering words card it knew I wanted to use it in a 3-D project. I immediatlely thought of the milk carton tutorial found at the http://www.inkingidaho.blogspot.com/ website. I love this tutorial because you can use it for any holiday (see my posting on November 22 where I used the Autumn Harvest stamp). If you search her blog by typing in milk cartons there are so many fun postings of Becky Roberts and other peoples creations. I also used the swirly die cut and am really pleased how it turned out. This took some time piecing together the white and pink die cuts. I think I am going to keep this one for me - Happy Valentines to me :). This is not one of the projects for craft night - I will post those late December or Early January.

Christmas Notepads & craft night handouts

The notepads with the clips are so easy to put together but they make great gifts. It also provides a way for me to use my smaller stamps - like the ones in the Sparkley and Bright stamp set. The most time consuming part is that I stamped the image on every page.

I used the leaf from the Autumn Harvest stamp set on the sour cream containers. I usually make something for each person that attends my monthly craft night to take home. I used the new Autumn Meadows DSP in the Holiday mini catalog. I got the instructions for the sour cream containers here.

Thanksgiving Teacher Gift and class gifts

My very first post was the Autumn Harvest milk carton but I wanted to post it again with the card. I am going to give this to my son's teacher. Then for his class my son helped me with the turkey treat boxes. (I say "helped" because I am not good about letting him help me as I want it done a certain way - but I am learning to let go of some of my perfectionist tendancies). I want him to have some ownership in the project also. I got the idea for the turkey treat boxes here (the 10/28/09 posting). On her blog she has some great uses of the die cut boxes that are made with the big shot. I am going to fill the turkey treat boxes with candy corn.

More tiles, coasters and 3x3 cards

I have been busy making more tiles and coasters for Christmas gifts. For these two tiles I got the idea from here. I also wanted to make some coasters that go with them. I used the travertine tiles and craft ink (love my craft ink).

This first gift set uses the Autumn Splendor stamp set with More Mustard, Really Rust, Ruby Red and Choc Chip craft ink.

This second set uses the Inspired by nature stamp set. I used sponge daubers to dab the craft ink onto the stamp. For all of the tiles I used Glassy Glaze Enamel. I did not put the glossy glaze enamel on the coasters. I baked the tiles and coasters at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes.

The final set of coasters I used both the Farm Life and Country Morning (hostess set) stamp sets. We live in, and I grew up in an agricultural area so these stamps make me feel like home. I made some 3x3 matching cards to go with them.

Thougts and Prayers

I recently purchased the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set and just in time. My uncle is currently in the hospital and I wanted to give him and my aunt a card to let them know I am praying for them. I wanted the card to be somewhat masculine so I used close to cocoa, chocolate chip and artichoke paper. I also love Stampin Up's buttons. For the texturing I used the final press texurizing folder. Now I just have to get the card in the mail.

More Boxes from Inkingidaho tutorial

I had in my mind some other layouts that I wanted to try using the tutorials from Becky Roberts 12 days of Christmas found here. I had already used the snowmen and elves from the Holiday Lineup stamp set and wanted to make a box using the reindeer. For this box I used a tutorial on faux suede. I can't remember the link but it is really easy. First I crumpled up the paper, then uncrumpled it and layed it out flat. From here I used a sanding block to sand the paper. Once finished the paper looks and feels like suede.

I also used my paper piercer around the reindeer. I need some more practice on this but it was fun and I think it added more dimension. I also put some bling on Rudolphs nose.

I also cased Becky Roberts on the Santa box. See her posting here. I used the tutorial for the bow box for this Santa box. I loved the Merry Moments DSP in the current catalog especially the candy cane stripes.

I have been trying to do various techniques on each box. This box again uses the bow box tutorial and I embossed using the small dots and then using a sponge, I sponged on some chocolate chip ink.

This last box was the most work but I am happy with how it turned out. These boxes are so versitile. The boxes are a great size and I could easily fit a large candle gift in this box (snowman box).

Ok - Actually this is a double casing. I cased the card from http://www.inkspiredtreasures.com/ here. After I made the card I new I wanted to make a matching box. I was happy that the snowman fit on the box. This took me awhile because I decorated all of the sides of the box.

I am going to have a hard time giving away these boxes. Some I plan on using to decorate with for Christmas. I think I am done making boxes for a little while as I have some classes I have to get ready for but it has been fun making them.

TFL

Etching Glass for Christmas

I have been playing around with some different techniques to do at my December craft night and wanted to try etching on glass with my stamps. The technique can be found here. I tried three different stamps. The first one I made used the Santa from Wondering words stamp set found in the Holiday mini catalog. I purchased a glass block from Hobby Lobby one that you can put in Christmas lights. For my first time etching I am happy with how it turned out. I however am not good at making bows which is obvious in the picture. I think I will ask my friend Jill if she will help me make a respectable bow.

For my second and third try I used two sizes of glass jars that I picked up at Wal-Mart. I used the Jolliest Time of Year stamp set. These turned out fairly well also. I definately will be including this in my December craft night.

Autumn Splendor card

I wanted to make a card for someone I know whose husband had surgery and is having a tough recovery. I cased the layout for this card from http://www.stampinbythesea.com/ 7/29 posting. The final press embossing folder was used and really adds dimension to the card. I also wanted to use one of my new buttons from Stampin Up. The paper is vanilla and chocolate chip and the ink is chocolate chip. I really like how it turned out. I will keep her and her husband in my prayers.

Boxes, Boxes and more Boxes

I recently purchased the 12 days of Christmas tutorial from http://www.inkingidaho.blogspot.com/. I couldn't wait to make some of the boxes in the tutorial. I started with the bow box. She uses the Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP from the hoiday mini catalog. A couple of sheets of the paper is flocked and beautiful. But since I make everything in bulk and there are only two sheets of each paper in the package I wanted to try to make some of my own DSP. I used the snowflake from the Patterned Pines hostess stamp set in the holiday mini catalog. I stamped the image in white craft ink and then embossed with white embossing powder. I am always looking for ways to save some money and I like to show my craft group different ways to use the stamps for backgrounds.

I also love the bow she made. She has step by step instructions for this bow and all her projects. Of course I had to make two boxes since I am going to be keeping one.

The second box I made was the rectangle box. Again, Becky Roberts used the beautiful white flocked snowflake DSP and the Santa and reindeer from the Wandering Words stamp set. I made a box exactly like the one she did but I just realized that I haven't taken a picture (and my battery in the camera needs charging.) For a picture of hers you can visit the above website on October 3rd.

But it wasn't enough to make one rectangle box I had to make two more. For these boxes I used the Holiday Lineup stamp set. I have always loved this stamp set (but there is a lot of coloring).

Here are the boxes:

Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Heard from the Heart

Paper: Choc Chip, real red, vanilla, a bit of Merry Moments DSP

Ink: Timber Brown Stazon, SU markers

I made a card several days ago that matches this box (posted on October 20th.)

Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Christmas punch

Paper: Black, Ballet Blue, Whisper white

Ink: Black Stazon, SU markers- bashful blue, ballet blue

Other: Iridescent Ice EP, non SU snowflake embossing folder, sponging

Casing my upline

I am casing this card from my awesome upline Jill. (Thanks for all of the inspiration and great ideas Jill!) I only change a couple of things. I made my card a 5x5, and changed some minor details but other than that the colors are the same and the idea is the same. I love the glossy white paper especially for sponging on the color. I didn't have a stiple brush so I had to use a sponge. It turned out ok but it the brush would have made it a lot easier. With the sponge you have to make sure you don't add too much color too quickly. Less is more in this case. I didn't even try to use my brayer. Sometimes my brayer and I don't get along ( I mainly use my brayer to ink up my background stamps).

Stamps: Wandering Words, Lovely as a Tree

Paper: Glossy white, night of navy, bordering blue

Ink: Night of navy

Accessories/Techniques: Sponging, two-way glue pen and dazzeling diamonds glitter.

Here is one more picture (pretty much the same

You can double click on any picture to make it larger.

Fall card, Fall weather????

Ok I made this card awhile back when I was in the mood for fall. I love the autumn season, but after looking outside today it appears we skipped fall and went straight to winter. I am not sure I am ready for the change in weather but I guess I better get ready. I cased this card from Gretchen Barron's posting on September 8, 2009 at http://www.gretchenbarron.typepad.com/. After embossing the rust paper I sponged chocolate chip ink on top. What a difference that made. It really made the textured paper pop.

Boxes and Tags

I recently purchased the Fancy Favor and Two Tags die cuts. I couldn't wait to try them out. I made one Christmas box with tags using the Sparkly and Bright stamp set and the other box using the Embrace life stamp set (shocking I know). I got carried away with embossing on the embrace life tags and didn't leave room to write a message. I think they also would make great bookmarks.

Stamp set: Sparkly and Bright

Paper: Soft Suede, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Soft Suede, white craft ink, Clear embossing powder, crystal effects

Stamps: Embrace Life

Paper: Artichoke, Rose Red, Regal Rose

Ink: Black Stazon, SU markers (above colors) clear embossing powder

Stamping with a Friend

This last weekend my friend and upline and I got together and worked on our Christmas Stamp a Stack cards. It was so much fun & our kids played so well together we got to work for quite awhile.

Here are the cards I created. I have some more ideas to try and then will narrow down my options.

The first card uses the Holiday Lineup stamp set. This card was cased from Gretchen Barron's blog here http://gretchenbarron.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/on-the-sixth-day-of-christmas-.html

Stamp set - Holiday Lineup

Cardstock - Black, Whisper White, Ballet Blue

Ink - Black StazOn, SU markers Ballet Blue & Bashful Blue; Versamark and Irdescent Ice embossing powder

Accessories - Black Ribbon, Snowflake #2 Big Shot die

The next two cards use the Holiday mini catalog hostess set Patterned Pines. I used the tutorial for using the shimmer paints on http://andreawalford.com/. She has seveal great video tutorials for using shimmer paints. Honestly before I watched her videos I wasn't sure what to do with them. Then once I saw how she used them I had to order all three types. I also used the Final Press impressions folder behind the topnote.

Stamp sets - Four Holidays, Patterned Pines

Card stock - Chocolate Chip, Whisper white, old olive

Ink - Old Olive, Champagne mist shimmer paint, chocolate chip

Accessories, Big Shot Top Note Die, Final Press impression folder

Stamp Sets - Four Holidays, Patterned Pines

Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Merry Moments DSP

Ink - Old Olive

For you and Thank you

I felt the need to use my embrace life stamp set again. This is one of my favorite cards. I forget to use black cardstock, but think it looks great with the regal rose and rose red colors. I don't know if you can tell but I used a paint brush to add some champagne Mist shimmer paint to the flowers.

Card Stock - Black, Whisper white, Regal Rose

Ink - Black; I colored the flowers with Regal Rose and Rose Red markers, Versamark and clear embossing powder were used for the background flower.

Accessories - Rose red 1/4" ribbon, Champagne Mist shimmer paint

I made several of these cards using the Manhattan Flower impression folder. On one I put the sentiment "Birthday Wishes" on another I put "Thanks So Much". The thank you card will go to my aunt who has been helping take care of my mom after back surgery. I don't know why but I have a hard time using this impression folder. I think because it seems to take up the whole page. I got the idea for this card from the Stampin Success June issue. The card idea was from one of the art contest winners - Jodi-Danielle Kutz. It helped to make this card a 5x5.

I used the Fifth Avenue Floral set on the inside of the card. I have been adding a decorative item to the inside of the card also. I think it finishes the card.

October Craft Workshop

Here is a picture of what we are going to make at our next craft night workshop on Tuesday October 20th. I am so excited. I just love the holidays.

The spiders and witch hats are made using punches. The spiders are so easy my 5 year old and neighbor girl made some the other day. Here is a picture of what my son made ( I laugh at the eye placement).

Besides halloween type crafts I also wanted to make a fall card. This card uses the Loads of Love stamp set. I cased the layout from www.renaestamps.blogspot.com/ on her 5/28/09 Scenes from a Garden gift set.

I love the versatility of this set and the Loads of Love accessories. It covers pretty much every holiday and it is so much fun to use the people in the truck.

For the Frankenstein boxes I cased the idea from Kimberly Van Diepen at http://www.stampinbythesea.com/ (her 10/15/08 posting). I think these two have so much character.

The other project is another treat holder. I got the idea from http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1059608?&cat=14761. I cased it almost exaclty except for I textured the paper and added a scallop punch. It was super easy to make (which is great when you are making seveal gifts for people.) I am very excited to have our workshop.

Load of Love Autumn Gifts

I have always loved the Loads of Love stamp set. I think it is so much fun to cut the car out of DSP (it is much easier than trying to color it in).

I wanted to make some gifts to hand out to teachers and friends for the autumn season. I think these Ghirardelli / tea bag holders are great gifts. I made two differnt types. I made several (not pictured here using the tutorial from splitcoaststampers. This uses half a sheet of DSP which can become quite expensive when you are making things in bulk (I made a total of 24. Twelve with the DSP insert and 12 using a sleeveless holder (next picture).

Although I can only get one piece of chocolate in this holder I love that there is space to write a quick note to someone. I think it makes it more personal.

I don't know if you can tell from the picture above, but I added crystal effects over the window to make it look like glass.

Also you can see that I used two types of ribbon. I can honestly say that I prefer the orange ribbon.

The orange polka dot paper I got from my local craft store.