Stampin' Up!'s Table Setting Die

This place setting was created for a class I am offering in October. The set includes a gift box, a place setting for six including napkin rings, place cards, and favor tags along with enough die cut leaves to scatter across your table or use to accent a centerpiece. Class will be held on October 2nd at Life's Memories and More. Call to reserve your space!

BIrthday Party Ensemble

Today is Emma's 7th Birthday! It is a bittersweet thing to watch your baby grow up! I am so proud of her new accomplishments, but know that time flies so quickly and it will only be a matter of time before she doesn't want to cuddle before bed each night - although she tells me differently.

Anyway before they were all gone I wanted to post a picture of the fun things we made - the card toward the back was her invitation. I bought the bright green paper at Life's Memories and More because I didn't think my SU colors were bright enough. When it came time to make the favors though, all I had on hand was Certainly Celery and Pear Pizzaz. We went with the Pear and I guess I like the look after all...I will definitely keep that in mind for the next time!

The Mini Milk carton was made by running the paper through the Big Shot to cut out the milk cartons, then I had to run it through twice more using the embossing folder. It's fairly easy to line up those dots for a second run through the machine, and I only made a boo-boo on one of them! We filled them with Sour Watermelons and used the 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches to punch the watermelons on top of the box. The white was drawn on with a Gel Pen, and we drew the teeny seeds with a Stampin' Write marker in Basic Black.

The Thank You Cards were made using the new 2 1/2" circle punch that will be available on Sept 1st, and the 1 3/4" circle punch, along with the Sweet Treat Cups, and Sweet Treat Stamp Set. The little gifts inside the balloons are Silly Bands. (This was so much fun to do, I think I will keep my eye out for Halloween Silly Bands to make Halloween Treats for Emma's Class this year - we have a wellness policy so we can send actual treats - but it sure makes coming up with new ideas lots of fun!!)

The invitation was made using my Circle Scissors Plus to cut out the bigger circles, and the Tiny Tags Punch and Stamp Set from the new IBC. The ribbon used was the last of my Mambo Melon from last year's catalog. I love those polka-dots!

Enjoy your weekend everyone :)

Hello Kitty Class

Have I shown you these yet? I made them awhile back, and wanted to use them for a class, but the opportunity never came around. Now I need a project for September at Life's Memories and More - so here it is! The dies were ordered directly from the Sizzix Website - and I got them on clearance! Who can resist a bargain!?!

12x12 September Club Page #1

If you are joining my 12x12 Scrapbook Group - Beginning September 8th - you will be making this Tropical themed page using the Island Oasis DSP from the Summer Mini. It was case'd from Buffy Allen's Blog. The design is based on the page below, that was originally created by another member of Love at First Stamp - Mabel Marello



If you want some of this paper for yourself it will need to be ordered before the first class, as it's only available until August 31st. I do have a small stash I would be willing to part with, but when it's gone it's gone!!

First Day of School Pencil Holders

Earlier today I saw pencil holders on Jennifer Campbell's Blog:
Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life

I couldn't wait for her to come back and post the measurements, so I did a little research and found one similar SCS. Unfortunately when I went back to do a search to link it - I couldn't find it :(

So to make a long story short - it's not my idea!

On another note, I am thinking positively! As the Summer is winding down, I decided to send out a few applications for some classroom teacher openings nearby. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will have a group of First or Fifth graders to share these with at the beginning of next month. And if not well....I am sure I have a group of new Kindergarteners at my After School Program who will like them! Wish me luck!

Late Night Stampers Blog Find of the Day

My back to school gifts made it to the Blog Find of the Day.

Thank you Kelly!

Back to School Teacher Gifts

I had so much fun making the Holiday Memo Holder, that I put the leftover precut card stock to good use and made a couple of Memo Holders for Emma's teachers!

Customer Appreciation Open House

Here is one of the items we made at my Open House yesterday. I think I need to lighten the load when I hold these events. We only made two projects and it took two hours - I had originally planned on three!

A Big Shot Halloween Class

At one of my recent classes customers were asking for a Big Shot Class. I thought what a better way to prepare for the upcoming fall holidays (my favorites!) than with lots of sweet gifts for the season? These projects will be made at an upcoming class I'll be teaching at Life's Memories and More. The matchbox covers were made using paper she had at the store - she lets me use my Stampin' Up! Supplies for my classes, but I thought I would make something using her papers for one of the projects. I am really looking forward to this class scheduled for the end of August - it's going to be fun!

New 3-D Club's Free Tutorial

Anyone who knows me as a Stamper and Paper Craft Artist knows that my favorite things to make are 3-D items. Since the classes seem to be wildly popular, and everyone asks for the directions to my projects, I thought I would start a 3-D Club! This club will meet once a month on the 3rd Wednesday of each month to create a new 3-D Project. Space is limited to 6 people, but additional clubs are always possible.

Tutorials and the materials to create your own sample project will also be available by mail each month for those club members who can't attend in person.

Each club member will receive a basic kit containing a 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog, a role of Sticky Strip, a Glue Stick and a sheet of Stampin' Dimensionals as my gift to you for joining.

In addition each club member will take turns reaping the Hostess Rewards, which will include a minimum of
*$15 in FREE Stampin' Up! Merchandise
* a Level 1 Hostess Set from current catalogs
(free products and Hostess Sets may be increased with additional orders)

The cost of belonging to this club is a minimum order of $25 per month before shipping and tax for the 6 months the club will run. Join me for a barbecue dinner and first club meeting on Wednesday August 18th at my house @ 7:00.

Please call me at 413-388-3022 if you are interested or want more information! Hope to see you there!





Here is the Free Sampler Tutorial for my upcoming 3-D Club.

Supplies needed:
(1) piece of 6 x 9 1/2" Card Stock or DSP
(2) pieces of 4 1/2 x 7" Coordinating Card Stock
(1) piece of 3 1/2 x 6" Coordinating Card Stock

Bone Folder, Sticky Strip, Ink Pads and Stamps of Choice



Outside of the Book:
Begin by scoring the 6 x 9 1/2" at 4 1/2 and 5 as shown in the picture




Inside Pockets
Score each 4 1/2 x 7" Piece of Coordinating card stock at 1/4" and 1/2" on each of the 4 1/2" sides and one of the 7" sides, and fold on the scored lines. These are the two sides and the bottom.

Use a 1 1/2" Circle punch in the center of the pocket on the top side lining up the edge with the notches at the center point.

Cut away the two bottom corners as shown.



Stamp and embellish the pockets as desired.

Attach the bottom and sides of the pockets to the inside of the book, lining them up as shown in the picture below, using 1/4" Sticky Strip.



Cover Flap:
Score the 6 x 3 1/2" AT 1 1/2" and 2"
Use your Corner Rounder on one side of the flap as shown.
Embellish as Desired and attach to the back of the Outside Book.

The top pocket will hold 4 finished 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" greeting cards, and the bottom will hold 4 envelopes.

Have fun trying your own!

Cindy's Brayered Card

Cindy shared this card with us at our Stampin' weekend. It is my first attempt at using a brayer...I suppose I should get one and get better at it! But anyway I love the way the gel pen creates the moonlight reflecting off the tree.

Wonderful Friends

I will soon be putting these two items together! Isn't this page the coolest? It was designed by Mabel Marrello and I made it last weekend at our Love At First Stamp get-away. We used just about all the new colors in SU!'s Regular Color Line including Pear Pizazz, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight. The stamp sets are Friends Never Fade from the new IBC, and Wonderful. The Log Cabin Smooch Spritz was not intended to be there, but was over spray from my color catcher which was right beside it. Not sure if I like it there or not but it sure does make it unique!

Stationary Box Accessory

If you liked the Stationary Box that I posed yesterday then you might like this second piece that I made to match. I used the Artistic Etching Stamp Set, with Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, and Early Espresso ink and paper. It's all put together on a 5x7 picture frame. Stampin' Up! does sell stamps to make your own calendar, but the ones I can get at Life's Memories and More are far more cost effective as far as the time and effort goes! hehehe

Thanks for Stopping By!

Stationary Box

This is the stationary box I made to gift to the Love At First Stamp members who I went away with this past weekend. I used paper I found at a local discount store to fill the boxes, and it coordinates with the Stampin' Up! New Neutral Color Family. I made the box by measuring the paper (4 1/4")- adding 1/4 inch to be able to easily get the paper out - then allowed for two one inch folds on the bottom and each side, as well as 3" at the top. This gave me a basic box template of 8 1/2 x 9 1/2. Then I scored and folded each side at 1" and 2". The bottom was scored and folded at 1" and 2", then I used my 1 3/8" Punch to create the little 'divet' on the front. From the top of the box I scored at 2" and 3" to create the cover (where the flower is placed). I trimmed of the extra pieces at the corners, and folded it in to create a sturdy box, using Sticky Strip to hold it all together.

The flowers were created using the new Island Floral Bigz Die in Early Espresso and Very Vanilla with the leaves in Wild Wasabi and secured with a Filigree Brad. Isn't this the cutest? I had so much fun making them!

This is a modified version of the Notecard Box originally created by Valerie Stangle and can be found @ Valeriestangle.blogspot.com. under tutorials. Valerie has some pretty neat tutorials and projects, if you've never visited her blog before it's worth checking out.

Vintage Blueberries

This past weekend my Stampin' Up! Group got together in CT. I shared this card during the Shoe Box Swap. Blueberries always remind me of a house we used to live in - with an orchard in the back and tons of blueberry bushes to boot!

I used the tiny circle punch from the Itty Bitty Punch set, and the Little Leaves and Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder from Stampin' Up!. The cardstock used was Very Vanilla, Night of Navy and Sahara Sand. The verse was stamped in Night of Navy ink, and the ribbon is 1/4" Grosgrain in Night of Navy.

TFL!

Tropical Flip Album

Here is another version of my favorite flip album. I will be holding a class on Thursday July 22nd to make this album. The cost is $15 and there are still spots available!

I had to copy the picture from Life's Memories and More's facebook page. My camera is mia unfortunately or I would have posted pictures of the one I made last weekend using Neutral colors and Artistic Etchings. It was made as a gift, and I had no time to track down a camera to use. I might just have to recreate it!