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!