Fossilized Autumn Wine Tag

Here is an idea for a nice way to present a bottle of wine to your hosts on Thanksgiving.

I die cut leaves from Very Vanilla card stock using the Autumn Accents Bigz Die. Then I used the Faux Fossil technique to add an interesting texture and color to the leaves. Read more about how to do the Faux Fossil Technique in this post.

After I "fossilized" my leaves, I could still see a lot of the vanilla card stock showing through, so I sponged on some color to make the leaves more vibrant. The Classic Inks I used are: Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry & Always Artichoke. After that I sponged Early Espresso onto the edges of all the leaves. Here's a closer look...

The little caps on the acorns were embossed using the Square Lattice EF. I think that adds a cute touch. After I had all leaves sponged as I wanted, I added a little shimmer to them with some Smooch Spritz.

The wide Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon is retired, but luckily I had some in my stash. The Burlap Ribbon from the Holiday Catalog would have been the perfect choice...but I didn't have any. "Happy Thanksgiving" is from the retired set Holidays & Wishes and is stamped on Cotton Ribbon.

I think this pretty autumn wine tag makes this nice bottle of wine even nicer. Thanks for visiting today...check back tomorrow for another project using the fossilized leaves.
Supply List:

• Autumn Accents Bigz Die
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Crumb Cake 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cajun Craze 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
• Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
• Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
• Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz
• Stamping Sponges
• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• Crumb Cake 1/2 Inch Seam Binding Ribbon
• Natural 7/8" Cotton Ribbon

Bloomin' Marvelous Take Out Box

I love it when I find other uses for my Big Shot Dies to make them more versatile, don't you? Here's an adorable little box that can hold chocolates or other little goodies...made it using the SU! Petal Cone Die.

I had seen this idea quite a while back but since it was so long ago, I'm not sure where I first saw the idea. All I know is I had notes written down on a post it note so I'd remember where to cut & score.  So to better explain, here's a photo tutorial to show you how to cut and score the Petal Cone die cut to make this cute take out box.

First, you are going to want to die cut 2 Petal Cone shapes, just like you would to make the cone shaped box. Fold one die cut shape in half and lay on your paper trim as shown below, making sure to line up the first score line (just below the rounded top) on the 3" line of your paper trimmer. Cut off the pointed end of the box.

Next, move the die cut so that the same scored line is at the 2" line of your paper trimmer as shown below. Score your die cut here.

Repeat the first two steps with the other die cut piece. Now you will need to cut away part of the flap that joins the two pieces together, as shown below.

You will also need to cut up along the score line from bottom to the next score line in the center. This will create the flaps that you will fold to create the bottom of your box. Before you fold into shape, stamp your box as desired. Here's what mine looked like...

I used the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set (available during SAB) and the Rock 'n Roll Technique to ink my flowers...ink first with Pool Party, then rocked 'n rolled in Island Indigo, and the centers colored with Calypso Coral Marker. The leaves were inked in Lucky Limeade and then I stamped them 3 times per re-inking to create various shades of green.

I then assembled my box using Tombo Multipurpose Adhesive...I find this stuff is quick and easy, yet strong enough to hold together a box. After assembling I decorated it with some punched out butterflies, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon and a cute tag made using Pretty Petites and the coordinating Petite Curly Label Punch...these items are also available as a FREE selection during Sale-A-Bration.

Here's another version of this box that I made for the hostess at my last Stampin' Up! Workshop. I decorated this one using the Madison Avenue stamp set. It held some Dove chocolate eggs along with samples from the Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack.

My hostess loved it! These little boxes would also make pretty favors for a party. I will be making more of these to hold candy for my guests to take home from our Easter Brunch.

There is still a few more weeks left of Sale-A-Bration! Contact me to host a party of your own...OR you can place your order any time from my website...just click on the "shop now" button, and for every $50 you purchase in SU! product you can select one of the exclusive SAB products I've used above...OR one of the many other fabulous choices!

Ice Cream Parlor Bliss

Here are a few projects using the Ice Cream Parlor Papers and the Bliss stamp set that I forgot to show you. The Bliss cone was a little hostess gift made with the Petal Cone Die. I used the stamps from Bliss to add a pretty design to the Melon Mambo card stock. It's tied with ribbon from the Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon & Button pack.

I was surprised that these little cones actually can hold quite a bit of stuff. I filled this one with Dove chocolates (you can't go wrong with chocolate, right!?), a sample of the Ice Cream Parlor Ribbon & Buttons, along with some punched out images from Punch Bunch and a "to do list" magnet using the Eat Chocolate set. (We'll be making one of these at my Eat Chocolate Class on April 10th)

Here is a quick and easy birthday card I demoed at the workshop. It also uses the Ice Cream Parlor Papers, Ribbon & Button Pack along with the So Happy For You stamp set.

It's hard to believe that Sale-a-Bration is almost over! Only two more days...don't let it slip away before you get these cute papers, stamps and ribbons for your collection!

Christmas Hostess Club

Last night was my December Hostess Club meeting. I prepared some festive non-card holiday projects for the group. (I guess I couldn't bear doing another Christmas card this week!) You may remember the Thanksgiving frame I shared here a couple weeks ago? We did a Christmas version of that using the Ski Slope papers and Little Felt Flurries.
This time instead of using the On Board Book Basics, I used the Long Board Chip Board made for use with the Big Shot. (I found out after the fact that the Book Basics are a little thicker and not recommended for use on the Big Shot.) I certainly don't want to hurt my beloved Big Shot or my Top Note die! I didn't take a photo of the back this time, but if you check out the Thanksgiving version is shows the pocket for the photo and the stand created from chipboard using one of the Sizzix tag dies.

We also created this darling little ornament using the penguin from Punch Pals.
This is one of those little favor tins with the clear lid. Using White Stazon, we stamped the lid with the snowflake from Season of Friendship. A piece of Ski Slope paper was cut into a circle using the Coluzzle and adhered to inside of tin with Tombo Multi Adhesive. The penguin was stamped on Shimmery White, watercolored, cut out and adhered to the back with some stacked pop dots for extra dimension. Iridescent Buffalo Snow and some Clear Micro Beads were added to the inside, the then tin was sealed with some Sticky Strip around the outside of the lid. This also held the Baha Breeze Striped ribbon in place, and it was knotted at the top. Silver cord inserted before the ribbon was knotted acts as the hanger.

I made these Christmas boxes using the Scallop Envelope Bigz Die for each of my clubbers.
The box is made by attaching 4 of the scallop envelopes together. I wheeled each one with the Bold Snowflake jumbo wheel and finished them off with the cute images from the Deer Friends Level 2 Hostess set. Here's a closer look:
Inside the box was a snowflake ornament created with the large Snowflake die and 4" square coasters. Each one was embossed and finished with a Felt Flurry and rhinestone brad. Of course there was also chocolate in the boxes as well!

Have a wonderful day! Looks like we're in for another c-c-cooold one here.

Boo!

I did a workshop last night and had such a good time! My hostess loves Halloween just like I do, so I knew she would especially love her hostess gift and the first project I demo-ed. She has an adorable 5 month baby girl so I know she'll be taking lots of photos of her on her 1st Halloween, so I demo-ed this cute little 6x6 page along with a matching clip to hold it.
I used the Haunting jumbo wheel along with the super cute new Halloween set from the Holiday Mini - Eat, Drink & Be Scary. I used the Big Shot and the Bigz scallop die to create the jagged edge, black mat for my circle. I just ran it through my machine twice - the 2nd time off set to get the jagged look. See the cute star embellishment on the hat? It is a piece of On Board chip board with Cosmo Glitter applied using Heat & Stick powder.

Other supplies used: Perfect Plum designer Prints Paper, Pumpkin Pie grosgrain & Kiwi Kiss double sided satin ribbons, Outline Alphabet, Square Scallop & Photo Corner punch, Vintage Brads.
As a hostess gift I created a cute pack of Scrap Candy which included stamped images, ribbon, card stock and punched embellishments that can be used for Halloween cards or scrapbook pages. I packaged these together in a cello bag with a topper. Book a workshop with me today and I will create a Scrap Candy pack especially for you!

Enjoy your weekend!

Glass Magnets

I've been wanting to make some of these stamped glass magnets forever. I have seen pics of them in the gallery on SCS and always thought it was such a cute idea, but I never could find the clear glass gems in the store. Then about a month ago I was in the Dollar Tree...looking for something else entirely and what do I see...a whole bag of these for...a dollar! (I love the dollar store...can you tell!?) They have an iridescent cast to them so I thought they would be really cute with any snowman image, and luckily the snowman from Punch Pals just fit. I also had my Time Well Spent set sitting out in my stamping area and noticed one of the flowers fit perfectly so I did some of those as well.

All I did was stamp my image on white card stock using black Stazon and water colored them. Then, since each of these gems are shaped a bit differently, I had to center the gem and then trace around it. I cut it out just inside my traced lines so it would fit nicely on the back of the gem. Too bad one of my punches wouldn't have worked...that would have saved some time! After my cutting was done I put a bit of Crystal Effects on my image and spread it around a bit, not going all the way to the edge, then I pressed the glass gem on top of it. When that was set I glued a magnet on the back...also using Crystal Effects.

I thought these would make a cute little goodie for my Hostess Club ladies, so I stamped some small cello bags with the Snow Flurries set using White Stazon, added a bit of iridescent shreds, and tied them off with some gold cord. Don't these make a cute little stocking stuffer?

I almost have my Christmas cards done...the stamping and assembly part is done. I still need to write inside and address them all. I had hoped to have them in the mail today, but I guess tomorrow is just as good, right? Have a good one!

Festive Punch Pals and a Dashing Snowman

Here are the other half of the workshop projects I showcased at the mother/daughter workshop this past weekend. The 2nd card I did was using the cute snowman from Punch Pals and some of the Dashing designer paper. This is another quick and easy card, but with the use of punches and the designer paper it looks more detailed.

Tip: When water coloring snowmen, I have found that Soft Sky is the perfect color to add a bit of shading & shadowing on my snowmen. I feel just a hint of color adds that little detail and really finishes him off rather than leaving him plain white. Don't forget to add a bit of shadowing underneath him to ground him...we don't want floating snowmen!

A hostess gift to the mom half of the Mother/Daughter team was a Christmas version of card candy using Punch Pals & Festive Favorites. These two sets work so well together! I figured she could use the pieces on her scrapbook pages, cards or even on gifts if she chooses to. On this one I even stamped the cello bag with White Stazon snowflakes. I just got the white Stazon so I had to try it out, right?!

For the make & take project everyone had a choice between two styles of bag-a-lopes. I showed you the floral version yesterday, today I will show you the other choice. These were made using 6x9 catalog envelopes. First cut the flap off, then score on 3 sides at 1". (not on open end) Wheel with your design of choice, embellish and fold into shape. This is a fun project that can create all sizes of bags depending what size envelopes are used and how you cut and fold them. The past several years I have made lots of different bag-a-lopes at Christmas time for my Christmas cookies.

Have a great day!

Big Bold Polka Dot Birthday

I had a Mother/Daughter workshop over the weekend. Most of the daughters were little girls around 10 years old. They were so cute, and I had so much fun teaching them how to stamp! They were such an attentive audience and I could tell they really enjoyed the projects we did. One of the cards I demoed was this one using the Big Bold Birthday set. Of course I had to use pink and other bright colors since that's what most little girls like! (and some of us big girls too!) It was a nice change because I've been using mostly all Christmas colors the past few weeks.

This card was really quick and simple. The background polka dots (on the Regal Rose layer) were stamped in White Craft. The Turquoise layer is from the Petals & Paisleys designer paper pack, as well as the striped piece that I added in place of ribbon. The hardest part to this card was cutting out the candle! This is such an easy set to work with and it's great because it has so many pieces.

I gave my little hostess I pack of card candy I made using the set In the Spotlight. Since each piece is mounted on acetate using a pop dot or temporary adhesive, she can easily peel them off and use them in her scrapbook or on cards. I also made a pack of card candy for my grown up hostess as well. Hers was made using a combination of two of my favorite Christmas sets: Punch Pals and Festive Favorites. I'll share that and the other card I demoed at her workshop with you tomorrow.

For the make & take project, we wheeled envelopes and then I showed them how to fold them into a bag-a-lope. they got to choose between a bag with flowers or one with snowflakes. Both bags used the All Through the Year set. The bag with flowers used the matching wheel: Garden Annuals.

Have a great day!

Wintergreen Notebook & Cute Flower Clips

Today I thought I would share some projects that can be created using some of the beautiful double-sided designer papers that are on special this month. Since these papers are so nice and heavy, they are great for altering a number of items. The little monogrammed notebook was covered in some of the Wintergreen paper. I think these are my favorite papers right now! I love the colors...they are suitable for the holidays, yet can be used for any occasion I think. I just brushed a thin layer of decoupage medium (I like Royal Coat) on the covers and laid my paper in place. It dries pretty quickly, so I was able to apply more decoupage medium on top of the paper. (I use a foam brush to apply the decoupage medium) This seals the paper and acts as a protective cover to guard against fingerprints and dirt...they can just be wiped away. I gave this little notebook and bag of goodies to the November hostess of my stamp club. I made these cute flower clips a while ago to give as a little treat to my stamp club group, but I kept forgetting! I finally remembered to give them out at this last club meeting. I punched out the flowers shapes when I was visiting with my upline one day...she has a Cuttlebug and I never tried one before. (I know...what rock have I been hiding under, right?!) Thanks Karman!

I used some plain, medium weight coasters and some of the monochromatic Prints Designer papers in Rose Red & So Saffron. I was able to easily punch a hole through the coasters using my crop-a-dile and then added a Rich Regal brad to the center of each one. I glued the largest flower layer onto the big clip and then added the other 2 with pop dots. A bit of Wild Wasabi double-stitched ribbon tied to the clip finished these off. Cute, huh? I've got several projects in the works right now using more of these beautiful papers. Will share more soon!