Top Note Book Treat Box

I LOVED this idea of using the Top Note die to make a treat box! You can put a gift card in here or even a yummy little treat!

For my box, I used the Top Note and Join in the Cheer dies (both Stampin' Up! exclusives!). I also used Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Kraft, and Vanilla cardstock. I ran some Chocolate Chip cardstock through the crimper and cut it in strips for the filler inside the box. I FINALLY used my Crop-a-dile (Dawn would be SO proud of me!!!) for the eyelet holes and eyelets and Chocolate Chip Tafetta Ribbon to tie the box closed. Oh, and Sticky Strip is an absolute MUST!

I'd like to take credit for this idea, but I didn't make it up. I CASED it from the following blog:
schwooo! by stampinangie
There is a great and easy-to-follow tutorial on there.

Thanks for looking!

Holiday Door Hanger

So tonight I went to have coffee with my daughter and my neighbor and her daughter. After, we strolled on over to Swoozie's. Well, while I was there I saw this cute door hanger that was in the same shape as Stampin' Up!'s Top Note die! I was instantly inspired! So...tonight I made this little creation! I adhered Real Red cardstock to both sides of a piece of cardboard to make it sturdier and cut out a Top Note. Then I cut another Top Note using my Ski Slope Designer Series Paper. I made the top of the hat with one of the flowers from the Birds & Blooms die cut. The white trim on the hat was made using the scallop edge punch on both sides. The red hat was cut freehand. I added the word "Joy" from Stampin' Up!'s Join in the Cheer die. I put some Real Red eyelets at the top, tied some hemp on, and then it was ready to go! I was thinking you could even make a baby door hanger--or really one for any occasion! Enjoy!

Jolly Santa

This isn't a card--it isn't even stamped! I went to Dish It Out (pottery painting place) on Saturday with my friend, Heather, and painted this jolly fellow!
I've always wanted a little Santa bowl for m&ms (or chocolate kisses!), so this was perfect.
Just wanted to share! =o) Bring on the holidays!

BTW, the Candy Cane Kisses and Dark Chocolate Mint Truffle Kisses are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

Inspired by a Friend!

My friend (and downline), Laura, in California sent me this sweet card with a scallop envelope (a Stampin' Up! exclusive die) attached to it! I LOVED this idea so I decided to CASE it!
Her version uses softer colors (pinks and browns), whereas mine uses darker colors (Old Olive and Chocolate Chip)! We both used the Stampin' Up! Round Tab Punch for the tab on the card and the Buttons die cut that Stampin' Up! carries.
I used Ski Slope Designer Series Paper which can be found in the Holiday Mini Catalog. I also added some hemp to my button for a finishing touch on the button which is resting on a strip of Chocolate Chip Tafetta Ribbon. I stamped a little greeting on the card in the scallop envelope that says "Birthday hugs and wishes".

I miss you, Laura! Thanks for the inspiration, girlie!

In memory of my Father...

My AMAZING group of Stamp Club girls decided that this month our swaps would be cards that we would donate to my Father's Retirement home. He passed away on September 13, 2008. =o(
Together we came up with 165 cards plus envelopes that we would present to his home in his memory for the residents to use. I took pictures of the cards as well as the note that I attached. Of course tonight I was in tears as I gathered the package together--he is missed very much. I've included the frame that was in his room that shows pictures of him with my son and daughter and my nephew--his 3 grandchildren. There are also pictures of me and my mother in there as well.
Thank you again to all my wonderful Stamp Club girls! You all rock!!! Your support means more to me than you will ever know.

Isaac Ellis
1925-2008
R.I.P.

Some of the Cards in my Dad's Donation Box

Here are three very simple yet very pretty cards that I made using Stampin' Up!'s Pocket Silhouettes stamp set (except for the tree image which is from Flaky Friends) and Sincere Salutations. I used Urban Garden and Ski Slope Designer Series Paper. The cards all follow the same layout yet use different stamps and colors. I particularly like the card that uses only the color Kiwi Kiss as the card is monochromatic and very sweet. These were included in the box that we donated to my Dad's retirement home.

November Stamp Club Projects!

We made these two projects using the Big Shot this month at Stamp Club!
The first was a Snowflake Ornament. We ran some thick glitter felt (it's hard to see how sparkly it is in the photo) along with the large snowflake die Stampin' Up! carries through the Big Shot. Then we tied some silver cord at the top to hang it from. Next, we embossed the snowman from the stamp set, Mr. Twigster (in the Holiday Mini Catalog), using a Black Craft Pad and some Clear Embossing Powder. We used a circle punch to cut him out. We punched out a larger circle out of Brushed Silver cardstock to mount him on. We attached the snowman on both sides of the ornament using glue dots. Then he was ready for the tree! You could also attach this to a present or gift bag or even insert a picture of your child or pet in the center instead of the snowman! So many possibilities!
The second project we made was a card featuring a dove and the word Peace. We used the Big Shot three times for this project--all three dies are Stampin' Up! exclusives dies! We used the Top Note die for the background, the Birds & Blooms die for the dove, and the Decorative Strip Join in the Cheer die--cutting out the word Peace only for this card. We used the Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set to stamp the flowers at the bottom using a White craft ink pad and Baja Breeze classic ink pad. I was inspired by a card I saw on Splitcoaststampers! I love the simplicity of this card--so pretty and elegant yet so easy to create!

Gobble Gobble

These are the personalized Turkey cards I made for all my Stamp Club girlies! I used my Big Shot to make the scallop envelopes with the Stampin' Up! exclusive die! I made my little turkey using the scallop circle punch for the feathers and the body, and a flower punch for the waddle, beak, and feet. The card is 2" x 3" which fits perfectly in the envie! I just wanted all my girls to know how thankful I am for their friendship! =o)

Scallop Envelope Basket O' Holiday Treats!

So, I found this really COOL thing you can do with your Big Shot Scallop Envelope Stampin' Up! exclusive die cut--whew!!! You can cut out four of them and adhere them together to make a cute l'il box! I used the Ski Slope Designer Series Paper and Real Red Cardstock and Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon and made this cute little basket! I used glue dots to keep the handle attached, and they are holding up great! For more information on how to make one of these, contact me! =o)

Christmas is around the corner!

I used the Star die cut that Stampin' Up! carries and cut it out of a piece of cardboard that had a snowflake sheet of Ski Slope Designer Series Paper adhered to both sides of it so that the ornament would look pretty on both sides when hanging on the tree! Here is a picture of what the cardboard looked like after I die cut the stars out. I also die cut the stars on Stampin' Up!'s Brushed Silver Cardstock. I took a rhinestone from the Pretties Kit and put it through the top layer of the star. I adhered the stars alternating between silver and patterned paper stars and poked a hole on top and tied some silver cord to hang it from. Pretty and easy! Oh, and on the back I wrote the year.
It was SO cold this morning that it is starting to really feel like Christmas is coming! =o)

Flower Layers

Another FUN die cut from Stampin' Up! What I LOVE about this die is that you can cut SO many different materials with it! On this card, I adhered one sheet each of patterned cardstock in Not Quite Navy and Real Red (from the Hostess Pattern Packs) to some cardboard. The flowers now have a thickness to them (especially when layered) and make the project more 3D! I used some white grosgrain ribbon layered over the opposite color cardstock to add a little accent to the card. The "Thank You" stamp is from the Stampin' Up! stamp set Enjoy Every Moment and is embossed in Winter White Embossing Powder. I love making cards with reverse colors. It is neat to see how different they can end up looking although the layout is exactly the same!

Birds & Blooms on the Big Shot

I LOVE my Big Shot. I'm sorry--maybe I didn't make myself clear. I LOVE my Big Shot!!! I love it SOOOOOO much!!! =o) Seriously though, this machine ROCKS!
I CASED this card off of something I saw on Splitcoaststampers, and I have to say that this card made me fall in love with my machine even more. I used the Top Note Die (again!!!), and the flowers are from Birds & Blooms (both Stampin' Up! exclusive dies). The colors I used were Pink Passion, Yoyo Yellow, Lovely Lilac (this flower actually appears dark blue in the photo), Tempting Turquoise, and Gable Green. Hope this card brings you as much happiness as it did me! =o) I honestly don't even feel like the photograph does it justice!

Stamp Club Projects from October

Here are the projects we made from Stamp Club last month! We always make two projects. We used Stampin' Up!'s Cheers to You set and I created an "olive" using punches and a toothpick! The cardstock used was Real Red and Old Olive. We adhered it onto the card using Stampin' Dimensionals. The other card was made with my man, Mr. Twigster. The image is actually stamped in Chocolate Chip and the cardstock that the patterned paper (Ski Slope) is mounted on is Chocolate Chip as well--although they both appear black thanks to my camera. Baja Breeze was used as the background color.

Holiday Greetings Basket

Once again, my new Big Shot die cut machine is at work! I LOVE this Designer Series Paper, Ski Slope. I used the Stampin' Up! Baskets & Blooms exclusive die and created this sweet little holiday basket which I filled with candy canes! I think the flower is my favorite part. I used the opposite side of the same patterned paper as the basket, adhered it to cardboard, then ran it through the die cut machine, so it is relatively thick. Then I popped an eyelet in the middle and tied it to the card with some ribbon. So fun and so easy!

Happy Halloween!

I made a ton of hand stamped lollipops (thanks to Dawn for letting me borrow the stamp set Batty For You and for the idea!) for Alexa's classroom's goody bags! I also popped a few in the Baskets & Blooms Die Cut Purses that I made and stamped for her teachers! What fun! The teachers loved them!
I LOVE my Top Note Die Cut as well (a Stampin' Up! exclusive)!!! I made this adorable Frankenstein card using my Big Shot Machine and some punches! I CASED it off of something I saw on Splitcoaststampers. So fun!!!

Happy 43rd Anniversary!

My Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law just celebrated their 43rd Anniversary!!! I made my husband this card to send to his parents. I did something similar to the sample that is in Stampin' Up!'s Idea Book & Catalog for the Cheers to You set, but changed it up a bit. I added a scalloped border in Mellow Moss to accentuate the unusual shape of the card and some glitter to the champagne. Cheers to Many More! =o)

I *heart* Mr. Twigster!

Mr. Twigster is a stamp set that is being offered in Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini Catalog. Isn't he just the cutest l'il thing??? I made this mini magazine holder using this stamp set, Stampin' Up!'s Ski Slope Designer Series Paper (also in the Mini Catalog), Real Red cardstock and Chocolate Chip Tafetta Ribbon. I don't have the link, but I found the website on someone else's blog while checking out some samples on Splitcoaststampers. I made some mini cards to go with it. Had I had my Scallop Envelope Die Cut at the time, I would have made envelopes to match! Oh, and this was a door prize at Stamp Club!

Upsy Daisy

Another fun yet simple set to use! Upsy Daisy by Stampin' Up! I made 4 cards using the exact same template with the new In Colors but reversing them. I also made another card using the same stamp set (sorry the color doesn't look true to life!) using my lovely Urban Garden paper again. I added some Chocolate Chip tafetta ribbon and a Baja Breeze Button threaded with hemp to complete the card.

Love Love Love my Designer Series Paper!

LOVE my Urban Garden Designer Series Paper!!! I also LOVE the Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set by Stampin' Up! I used the Scallop Edge Punch to create--well, the scalloped edge! This was such a simple yet elegant card to make. In fact, we made it at Stamp Club. =o)

Growing Up!

I stamped this sweet card for my neighbor's son, Chase, when he turned one! I used the All in the Family set by Stampin' Up! where you can basically "make" your people by mixing and matching the stamps! I LOVE it! Seriously, I think it is one of my favorite stamp sets--so ridiculously cute! Anyway, I wanted to show Chase growing up, so I stamped him going from a baby to a little toddler. The background is Certainly Celery cardstock and the scalloped circles are punched out of Bashful Blue cardstock. I used Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon across the background.

Silly Sock Monkey

Gotta love the Sock Monkey from Stampin' Up! He really is pretty stinkin' cute! I masked the birthday hat and stamped the little dude over it so it looked like it was actually on his head. I also stamped the balloon separately and drew a string and attached it to his wrist. I cut out a balloon and mouth with Real Red cardstock and adhered them on the card and added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the top of the monkey's birthday hat. The side of the layer of Certainly Celery is scalloped using the new Scallop Punch by Stampin' Up! I also love the look of the staple in the card--just adds a little extra something!

Window Dressing

This new Level 3 Stampin' Up! hostess set, Window Dressing, is SO cute! On this card, I stamped the window again on white cardstock and cut out the actual windows and adhered onto the window stamped in Mellow Moss. I also scored the shutters so they were three dimensional. I stamped the bird and three vases on colored cardstock, cut them out, and adhered them onto the card as well. I created a brick wall look by stamping a rectangle stamp repeatedly in the background. It's nice to see a square card instead of the typical rectangular card for a change!

My Daughter the Artist!

I have to add some of my little girl's artwork. I know I am a little biased, but I think she is so talented! She drew one picture for Daddy's office, and the other for Mommy, aka "OMMY"! =o)

Triangle Trifold Card

I made this Triangle Trifold card for my neighbor's son's 5th birthday! I thought it was so fun the way this card cleverly folded and opened. I love this cute set, Unfroggetable by Stampin' Up! I also used their Cutie Pie background paper, and Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue cardstock. To see a tutorial on how to make this card, visit Splitcoaststampers Triangle Trifold Card.

Welcome!

I am new to the blog thing, but I've been having fun making so many cute samples, that I had to have somewhere to post and share them! So here it goes! Any suggestions and/or comments would be greatly appreciated!
Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by!