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.

Voila Trivet

Today I am posting some pictures of a trivet I made using the Voila stamp set. I love this chef. I am trying to remember the type of tile I purchased. From the receipt from Home Depot it reads Giallotum. They are found in the tumbled marble section of the tile ile. They tiles are unfinished. To stamp the image I used black StazOn. I colored the red with a red sharpie, and used chalk applicators and small paint brushes to apply the white craft ink. I used a versmarker and gray chalk for the platter. After I let it dry, I used a very fine black sharpie to fix any areas that weren't as bold as I would like them to be. I then baked it for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. After it cooled I applied a matte finish acrylic spay (3 - 4 coats). I am using the one below with the black ribbon for display in my kitchen. I have tested it with hot pans from the oven (I took off the ribbon) and it seems to handle the heat ok. I just think the white craft ink makes the whole thing pop.

Below are some pictures of a gift set that I made using the Viola stamp set. The purse was made using the "Purse-onally Perfect Notes Tutorial" from http://www.inkingidaho.blogspot.com/. The tutorials that are provided at this website are very easy to follow and there are pictures provided for each of the steps (for those of us who are more visual than anything else.) The mini composition notebook tutorial is free and is also on the above website posted August 2009. I seem to case Beck Roberts work a lot. The cards are also a case of her February posting here http://inkingidaho.blogspot.com/2009/02/cupcake-take-along.html.

I may even try to make a small chalk board with the chef for my kitchen (so I can let my family know what we're having (or not having) for dinner. Thanks for looking.

Season of Friendship Large Composition Book

OK so the previous post wasn't my last post of the day. I recently got the stamp set "Season of Friendship" and couldn't wait to use it. I have been wanting to put together one of the large composition books and thought this would be the perfect set to use since the tree is a large stamp. I used both craft ink and classic ink on this project. I love the depth of color the craft ink brings to projects. Here is what I used to make the the book:

Paper - kraft, DSP the new Autumn Meadows paper in the Holiday mini catalog.

Ink - Craft ink in mustard, choc chip, old olive. I had to use the classic ink in rust because the rust craft ink I ordered in August is still on backorder. I hope it gets here before fall is over. The snowflake is brocade blue and the flower is the new razzleberry.

I think I will have to make a couple more of these. One thing about me is that I have to do everything in bulk. I can't just seem to make one of anything.

Candy Bar Pull Treats

Ok, this will be my last post for today. I am posting pictures of the Hershey Bar Holders that we may make for our December craft night workshop. I love these candy gifts because they are easy to make and yet you can give a home-made gift to someone to show how much you care. Plus making them is also fun.

Christmas Ghirardelli chocolate holders

I have been trying to plan what to make for the December craft night workshop. I had such a fun time making these chocolate holders. The tea/chocolate holders I made a few days ago was done by following the instructions off of the splitcoaststampers website. The holders I made this time were cased from http://www.inkingidaho.blogspot.com/ December 2007. The inserts on these holders are made using a 5 1/2 x 7 piece of DSP. I didn't have my Christmas DSP yet so I used regular card stock. It is more stiff but it still works. Be careful punching the 1/2 circle because the paper is so thick it can mess up your hole punch (don't ask me how I know.) It it best to punch it on one layer then fold it per her instructions and finish punching. If you are using the DSP there shouldn't be any problems using the hole punch.

The first holder pictured used the Delightful Decorations stamp set. I used real read and old olive, however I think it would look better in garden green. The sentiment is the Warm Words stamp set.

The second holder is made using the Jolliest Time of year stamp set. I love this tree. And by the looks of it I also love the real red and old olive together. This one is my favorite. I am not usually a glitter kind of person but I added dazzeling diamonds glitter to the tree. I think Christmas just calls for some extra sparkle.

Here is a picture of the inside. Sorry I should have put the chocolate in it for display. I used the Jolly roller on the inside to create my own DSP.

These were so much fun to make. TFL

Sparkly & Bright Treat Boxes

I made these treat boxes using the Big Shot Box # 2. The were a lot of fun to make and actually came together pretty quickly. I used the new Sparkly & Bright stamp set from the recent catalog. This stamp set is great for tags also. I made a few of these but haven't taken a picture yet to post. Maybe next time.

Here are some close up pictures of the boxes:

For this box I used Real Red and Whisper white cards stock. The ink was real red and craft white.

It doesn't show up very well but I added some sparkle with dazzeling diamonds glitter to Santa's hat and coat.

For this box I used Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White. The ink is white craft ink. I added some crystal effects on his nose but it doesn't show up well in the picture.

I used the wide oval punch to punch a hole in the front of the box and added some transparancy paper. I love being able to see the treat inside. The circle dots are from the Delightful Decorations stamp set. I think some red and white candy (peppermints) would look great in the box.

Halloween Decoration

I wanted to do some decorating for Halloween however all of our decorations are in storage as we are trying to finish our basement. So I decided to make a candle for our main bathroom downstairs. I used the Haunting wheel in Elegant Eggplant and then I punched a circle and colored it with the Saffron. Then I used the stamping on candle technique found on Splitcoaststampers. I added some non SU ribbon.

Tea / Ghirardelli Holders

I wanted to have on hand something to give out when I had a sick friend or just to say thank you. It seems like when I need something handmade I don't have time to make it. I spent quite a bit of time making about 12 thank you, get well, and happy birthday tea holders. For the thank you and happy birthday ones I plan to put in some chocolate. However that might also be good in the get well soon cards (Doesn't chocolate make everything better?) The instructions to make these can be found here http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/teabagholder/. I have recently seen another website that has different instructions. The instructions on splitcoaststampers uses DSP (Designer Series Paper) that is 6.5" x 7" and you can therefore only get one insert per sheet of designer paper. Once I try the other instructions I will post it. It uses a 5.5" x 7" piece of DSP.

I will be making some of these for Christmas - to be posted later.

Christmas Tiles Class

This is just a reminder to all of you who signed up to do the Christmas projects class. The other day I posted a few samples of the coasters we would be making. Today I am posting pictures of the tiles as a reminder of the options. The class is on October 10th from 1 - 4 and there is another class on November 14th from 1 - 4. I will send out an e-mail to get a final count this week.

The tiles below are using the Embrace Life stamp set. It is one of my favorites. It is a good thing I have purchased more stamp sets or this stamp set would be used at every craft workshop.

For the Embrace Life I used Perfect Plum and Orchid Opulence craft ink. I also used black craft ink. This one makes a great present especially if you don't know the colors of someone's house decor.

I have seen these next tiles on various websites, particularly http://www.stampinbythesea.com/ (I think in May 2009). Again I used craft ink, sponge daubers, and the Kind Thoughts Stencil sold by Stampin Up.

An inspired by nature tile:

And finally a Christmas tile using the delightful decoration stamp set from the new mini catalog.

Once the image is stamped or stenciled ultra thick glassy glaze enamel is put on the tiles at baked at 350 degrees for 10 - 13 minutes.

I can't wait to get together and make some Christmas projects.

Another Set of Coasters

My good friend Jodi purchased this stamp set for me to borrow. It is one of my favorite Christmas sets. Thanks Jodi I love it!!!!! Maybe someday I will return it to her. It puts me in the mood for Christmas. By the way there are about 12 weeks to Christmas. Maybe I should stop making samples and get to making some of my Christmas presents. I think I will make a set using the snowman next.

I am also working on some new projects inlcuding some Christmas projects for our craft night. It should be a lot of fun. TFL

Medallion with sparkle

The medallion is one of my favorite background stamps. This is one of the last cards we did at September's craft night workshop except I added some dazzeling diamonds glitter to the card and I used the glossy paper for the sentiment rather than whisper white. The glossy white doesn't show up well in the picture but it goes good with the dazzeling diamonds. The whoe card shines (which is also hard to see in the picture). The card dimensions are as follows:

1. Main Card Stock (CS): Eggplant is 8.5 x 5.5. Score at 2 1/8 each side and crease on score lines.

2. Saffron - Cut two strips each 1 7/8 x 5.25.

3. Lay the two strips of saffron next to each other as if they were one piece of paper. Ink the medallion stamp well with the brayer and stamp.

4. Adhere to Eggplant leaving about 1/4" on all sides.

5. Use two way glue pen on the medallion you just stamped then add dazzeling diamonds glitter. I did it a section at a time so the glue didn't dry out.

For the greeting: Eggplant CS is 2.75x2.75, Saffron CS is 2.5 x 2.5, Glossy white cs is 2.25 x 2.25. I got the inspration for this card from this web sitehttp://studiono8.blogspot.com/.

Tile Coasters

I have been so busy making coasters. I am posting these as ideas for you for our Christmas Projects workshops. The dates for the workshops are October 10th from 1 - 4 and November 14th from 1 - 4. If these dates do not work for you please let me know and we can work something out.

Lovely As a Tree Coasters

I used the Lovely As a Tree stamp set. This is one of my favorites. I used the Timber Brown StazOn for all of them. I also tried to make it look antique by coloring the edges of the coasters with the same ink. The tiles used are tumbled tiles from my local hadware store. Once I cleaned them off and let them dry I stamped them. Finally I sprayed them (about 4 - 5 times) with clear acrylic (matte finish) spray.

The coasters above were made using the Autumn Spendor stamp set out of the new holiday mini catalog. I stamped these coasters using the Timber Brown StazOn. Once the StazOn was dry I used a Versamark pen to color in the leaves and then used my Stampin' Pastels (chalks) to color them in. I baked these for 10 minutes at 350degrees. Once cooled I sealed with an acrylic spray. Super easy.

The next set of coasters was made using the "A Cardinal Christmas" Stamp set. Funny thing - when I first saw this set I wasn't crazy about it at all. Now it is one of my favorites.

For this set I stamped the cardinal using the timber brown StazOn. The Leaves were stamped on the tile using old olive and ruby red craft ink. I also baked these for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. I have used both the tumbled marble tiles and Travertine tiles. My favorite for these are the Travertine because they are smoother and the cardinal's face comes out better.

On the last set of coasters I used the Level 1 hostess set "Country Morning" For this set I stamped it using (yet again) Timber Brown StazOn. Then I colored them with my SU markers. I sprayed them quite a few times with the acrylic spray because I didn't want the ink to run.