Coffee or Tea for Two

This is a cute little project that I came up with last night.  It  uses Stampin’ Up!’s beautiful Designer fabric and images along with some items that you may have around your house – bottle caps.  My bottle caps were newly acquired, but this project is perfect if you want to repurpose some of those that you may have collected and saved. I had been collecting these little pieces of “canvas” or bottle caps, for a long time and when we moved I finally decided that they would end up in the recycling bin.  *sigh*  But, as luck would have it, a friend sent me these bottle cap beauties to play with!

This little set includes a fabric tic tac toe game board that  doubles as a little storage bag to hold the game pieces.  One of the game pieces also doubles as the bag tie to keep the pieces inside.  I punched a small hole using a handheld punch and inserted some linen thread through the bottle cap.  The piece comes off completely and can be used as the final piece when playing. 

If you want to make your own little game board, cut nine 2-1/2” x 2-1/2” squares of coordinating fabric (5 squares in one of the colors and 4 in the other).  All seams are 1/4”.  The back of my game board is a 6-1/2 square of muslin, but you could use one of your coordinating fabrics.  I figured the muslin would show my name and copyright stamp easier! (see pages 144-145 of the current catalog for these customized stamps)   If I was more awake when I was making the bag, I would have made a drawstring tie, but I just tied the linen thread with the attached bottle cap to keep the game pieces inside. Easy Peasy!

You’ll need nine bottle caps for this game set. The 1” punch fits PERFECTLY on the bottle cap.  Decide on two different images.  For me this was the hardest part, choosing which stamps to use.  Stamp 5 of one image and 4 of the other.  That made me super happy!  **happy dance** Snail Adhesive worked great to keep the paper attached to bottle cap.  This may work differently based on how much humidity you have where you live so test out some of the other Stampin’ Up! adhesives if you are not getting the same results. I placed the self-adhesive covers on top of the watercolored images and I was done.

I really thought this project would be great for a party favor maybe at a Tea or a Shower.  But honestly it would be great as an anytime sugarless gift for a teacher, neighbor friend or loved one!  Don’t you think this would be a fun sugarless Halloween treat with spiders and bugs? Great for travel too!

More than Tic Tac Toe: As I was playing around with this set, I also came to think about another game to play similar to horseshoes.  Bounce the bottle cap on the table and try to get it on one of the squares. **Any of you that thought of “quarters” get back on track.  This is a family game! ** Get two points for getting it to touch the center square or one point on any of the other squares.  Be creative and come up with other games to play with the pieces available. Make sure to include instructions for the recipient!

Stamps:   Morning Cup
Papers:  Very Vanilla 
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Rose Red, Baja Breeze, River Rock
Accessories: Linen Thread, Bottle Caps with Self-Adhesive Covers, Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric, Muslin 
Tools: 1” Circle Punch, 1/16” Handheld Punch, Blender Pens, Snail Adhesive, Sewing Machine
Techniques Used:  Water Coloring

Enjoy!

 

 

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Stamping on Wood items

Have you ever tried stamping on wood? I’ve been playing around with some fun items that I acquired a week or so ago.  These cute little wooden sewing items (Needle Case and Thimble) are usable and great items for hand sewing or a great little gift for that sewer, quilter or crafter that you know!  They remind me of something I would find when I would be picking through my grandmother’s sewing box. As I do sew, I think I may be keeping these fun items for myself!

I must tell you, if you have never stamped on anything curved, it is a tricky endeavor, so make sure you practice first.  Try using some non-permanent adhesive and some copy paper attached to your item.  That way you can practice all you want before you stamp!  When working with wooden items you may want to do a little fine sanding before you begin.  If you decide to sand, take a wet cloth and wipe away any wood dust before you begin your stamping and allow to dry if needed before stamping.

When I received these items they were natural wood so I did a little sponging to give it a more aged look with Crumb Cake and then I stamped in Chocolate Chip. I really like how the brads look on top of the items!  Those cute little antique brads (117273) were the perfect add on!  UPDATE – To attach the brads to the wood pieces, I cut off the prongs on the brads and folded the little pieces I couldn’t get off to the center. I made sure that the prongs were as flat as possible so that it was flush against the wood top.  I suggest using a “super glue” type of adhesive to attach them to the tops of the needle case and to the thimble if you plan to use them versus the Tombow multipurpose adhesive if using for decor purposes only.

If you plan on using these items, I really suggest spraying with a clear acrylic spray.  It’ll keep the oils from your hands from discoloring the items and protecting those beautiful stamped images.

 

Stamps:   Tiny Tags
Papers:  None
Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Antique Brads 
Tools: Craft and Paper Scissors, Sponge 
Techniques Used:  Sponging

Enjoy!

 

 

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Card Making Inspiration by Sketch Design

It’s another cold and icy day here today, and another “snow day”.  Ten years of Chicago winters and not one snow day and we’ve had 5 here already…Wow!  Welcome to Dallas winters…I know that Noah is super-duper happy! He’s been all smiles today. 

I thought I would try and get a quick card made this morning…this is another Splitcoaststampers challenge.  This one is all about using a predetermined sketch to design a card.  Can you see all these elements in the card I created ?  This is a very simple idea that helps you begin your card/scrapbook page or 3D item by giving you a design to follow. You just have to pick out your stamps and paper and ink.  Easy right?  The next time you create a card, give this a try. 

Some details I’d like to share with you. 

*My card base is an unconventional size.  It is 4-1/4” x 5”.  Did I do that on purpose?  Yes.  I chose to have some of my card elements come off the card rather than be directly on the card base making the finished card size 4-1/4” x 5-1/2”. Also, It is nice when you have a strip of paper sitting in your scrap draw that isn’t quite the perfect size for your card. Right?

*Also the #3 strip uses (3) Two Tags Bigz Die with the sides cut off to narrow it up a bit.   

*Finally, I dipped the antennae in the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint for just a touch of sparkle. This absolutely doesn’t show in the photos.

Stamps:   Occasional Quotes
Papers:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Elegant Soiree Designer Paper
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Mini Glue Dots, Antique Brads, Paper Snips 
Tools: Two Tags Bigz Die, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Paper Piercer, Elegant Soiree Designer Paper 
Techniques Used:  n/a

Enjoy!

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Card Making and Photography

When you sit down to make a card does it take you forever?  Do you have all your stamps out and all kinds of paper and you keep thinking about it?  Well, today was not one of those days for me! I saw this fun challenge over at Splitcoaststampers to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) card with these colors…(Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait and Daffodil Delight), and then I was done.

Okay, so I thought about it, grabbed my paper and supplies in about 5 minutes and then put this quick and simple card together in about 2 minutes.  It took me more time to photograph it then to put it together.  The sun was too bright….okay, I know all of you that are living in the middle of a snowy heap and gray skies are not happy with me saying that, but it’s true.  Have you ever had a problem taking a photo in bright direct sunlight.  It washes a lot of the color away…oh the trials and tribulations of living in a warmer climate, I guess, LOL! 

Then, this guy couldn’t keep his nose away from the card while I was trying to photograph it.  I think it looks like he is saying “Who Me?”  Do you have a pet that must “touch” your pieces of art when you are busy photographing them?  If I look back at some of my old photos, I’m sure I could find a couple puppy noses.

Stamps:   Inspired by Nature, Tiny Tags
Papers:  Whisper White
Ink: Jet Black Stazon 
Accessories: Dimensionals
Tools: Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait Stampin’ Write Markers, 1-1/4” Square Punch 
Techniques Used:  Spotlight

I hope you’re having as good a day stamping as I’m having, but a better day taking photos!

I’ll try to get some photos of what I’ve been spending a bunch of time on later in the week! If you’re interested in stamping on wooden items then make sure you check back!

Enjoy!

Sale-a-bration is still going on!  Order your Stampin’ UP! products now and earn free products.  Call or email me now with any questions or to place your order.

Half Box Gift Packaging How To

Making custom boxes is a very easy project if you know how to do it.  This little half box is so simple because you don’t have to make a top for it.  A simple belly band or a ribbon wrapped around the box is a simple way to keep the precious creations in the box.  The Nested Hearts half box I made held 4-1/4” x 4-1/4” cards and the dimensions are shown below.  This Captured Hearts half box will hold 5” x 3-1/2” cards.

The box I’ll be showing you today holds eight of the Captured Hearts cards with eight envelopes.  The box was inspired by the box on page 10 of the current 2010-2011 Stampin’ UP! catalog.

I create templates using Stampin’ Up!’s grid paper (102787).  It is a wonderful tool when creating templates and then easily stored for the next time you need it!  You’ll be creating this half box template to fit the size of your envelope as it is a bit bigger than your card.  So place your envelope on your grid paper and draw a rectangle around it. I wanted the sides to be 1-1/4” so that after scalloping the edge I had a 1” side.  I made sure their was a 1-1/4” band on all sides around the envelope.  Those 1/4” squares make it easy to measure.  I mark directly on the paper and then have a template for next time. After marking your envelope and the sides, you have the dimensions for your  cardstock.  6-1/4” x 7-3/4”.   Click on the photo to see a close up with the ruler. 

Cut your cardstock to the dimensions and score all sides 1-1/4”.  If you want to scallop the edges do that before folding on all the score lines.  Next, fold along all scored lines and cut dashed lines as shown  in photo. Use Sticky Strip to adhere box together.

If you scalloped the edges, they might not line up perfectly when you put the box together.  Use your sharp Paper Snips to cut around the scallops to “clean” them up.

Nested Hearts Box (for 4-1/4” x  4-1/4” cards. 4-3/8” x 4-3/8” envelopes) Cut a piece of cardstock 7-7/8” x 7-7/8”.  Score all sides at 1-1/4”. Follow directions above.

Personal tip:  I suggest creating all your cards and envelopes first.  The height of your box sides will be determined by how dimensional your cards tend to be.  For example.  I was only able to place 3 cards with matching envelopes in the Nested Hearts box because both the cards and envelopes contained dimensional elements, whereas, the Captured Hearts box contained eight cards and envelopes because the cards and envelopes contained little to no dimensional elements.

Enjoy!

Captured Hearts

This card was inspired by a challenge over at Splitcoaststampers to use hearts.  This quick and simple card uses the Note Cards and envelopes (107311) that are found on page 171 of the current Stampin’ UP! catalog. 

I thought this card was the perfect card to create for the men in my life…my husband, father, brother-in-law, and father-in-law.  I could make lots of them and then they would have cards to give to me…okay OR their wives for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, “that was a great thing you did for me Day”, “I thought about you all day today day”, “I’m sorry I’m a dope sometimes day”, or anytime a man needs a card to give to his wife day (you all know this list could go on and on)!  I know I would be happy to receive one of these for any one of those days…and of course a handwritten love note from David always makes my day.

I chose Daffodil Delight for my card today, but any color would do.  I enjoy using all my colors so although Cherry Cobbler and Real Red were the first colors I was drawn to, I decided to spice it up with the color of parakeets.

Stamps:   Aviary, Dot, Dot, Dot, Clearly for You
Papers:  Whisper White, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake 
Accessories: Jewels, Dimensionals
Tools: Heart to Heart Extra Large Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig 
Techniques Used:  Two Step Stamping, Sponging

Tomorrow, I’ll post to show you how to create a template for the half box shown in my Nested Hearts Gift Set post, for this Captured Hearts set of cards.

Enjoy!