Chalkboard Fun

I just wanted to share a few projects that I designed using the chalkboard vinyl that Stampin’ UP! had carried this year in their Definitely Decorative line.  Although the rolls of vinyl are gone there are still a few chalkboard vinyl pieces that are available on the retiring list that can be used for similar projects. 

Below you’ll find three of the projects that I offered at my chalkboard vinyl class* this week to show various mediums on which to adhere the vinyl other than your walls or cabinets. If you had purchased the vinyl and have not explored its uses yet, I hope this inspires you to get it out and start using it for your summer events! 

This is a 4” x 6” frame.  A great place to leave messages.  How fun for a graduation, new college roommate, sorority sister, or friend!  Leigh and Alex decorated their mini message boards with the Decor stencils, Elegant Trio.  (Who knew chalk could be used with the Stampin’ UP! stencils! How fun!)

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Here are some fun butterflies that are cute and bright for your summer parties!  They can be used as plant stakes, drink swizzle sticks, package toppers, bookmarks, lawn markers,  table placards or even at a party to identify your dishes! I’m sure you can come up with plenty of other ideas too!

I love these little pillow boxes, but add some chalkboard vinyl and it becomes  a unique gift box that can be personalized with names, dates or your own unique artwork. Perfect  party favors for showers, weddings, graduations, birthdays etc!

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!

*I have a couple of classes available for sale if you are interested in doing these projects on your own.  Contact me directly for details.

Blossoms and Daisies Scratch Pad

 I have to admit I am glad that I committed to showing you 5 days of the Bright Blossoms set.  I haven’t had this much fun creating in awhile. I hope you are as excited by these fun creations as I am. 

This project came about by necessity.  I had a not-so-cute little square box of papers that hung out by my phone when someone called.  It is down to just a few sheets, so I thought why not have something cute by the phone to take messages on.  The Summer Smooches Fabric Brads were just what this project called for.  These brads are only available until April 30th.  They will not be returning with the release of the new catalog….so if you are in love with them…now is the time to order a few packages of them.  They are delightful aren’t they?

Stamps: Bright Blossoms 
Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Summer Smooches Fabric Brads, 3” x 5” Scratch Pad
Tools: Big Shot, Daisies #2 Bigz Die, 3/8” Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive, Signo White Gel Pen, Sticky Strip
Technique(s): watermark stamping

How’s I do that? I created the Daisies by die cutting 3 Whisper White and 3 Lucky Limeade Daisies.  I alternated the colored and the white daisies and then inserted the brad in the center and opened it up.  I pulled up on the petals to complete.  I did not glue all of the daisy layers to each other, but if you prefer no movement use the multipurpose adhesive to hold the daisy layers stationery.

I’m really excited by this new cuteness! Thanks for visiting today!  I’ll see you tomorrow for the last day of Summer Smooches projects!

Bright Blossoms Friend

Here we are mid-week with another Summer Smooches project!  I hope you’ve been enjoying the bright colors of summer in these projects this week!  Today I’m sharing with you the Summer Smooches Designer Fabric!  The Designer Fabric takes on the wonderful colors of the Summer Smooches Designer Paper PLUS adds some wonderful texture to our creations!  By adding the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets to any piece of fabric you can do just about anything with fabric that you would do with paper!  Not tried it yet? Try mixing up your creations by adding Summer Smooches fabric.

This cute little box can contain anything from candies to 3 x 3 cards!  A perfect summer party favor! Spice up the envelope with a touch of Summer Smooches for the perfect touch!

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, With All My Heart* 
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Real Red, Versamark
Accessories: Brights Glimmer Brads, Stampin’ Up! Wire Works(Retired), Summer Smooches Designer Fabric
Tools: Crop-a-dile, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Fancy Favor Bigz XL Die, Big Shot Multipurpose Sheets, Bone Folder
Technique(s): watermark stamping

Thanks for visiting today!  Remember two more days of Summer Smooches coming your way! Enjoy!

 

 

*The With All My Heart stamp set is currently on the Last Chance List.  It will only be available through the end of May.

Blackberries are in Season

Welcome back!  This is my second day sharing a project I created using the Bright Blossom stamp set along with the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper.

This Summer Smooches Designer Paper just screams summer!  It is bright and inviting and ready for a party!  How lucky am I that it contains two prints in green too!  I love all the Stampin’ UP! greens!

This simple project uses what I call the blackberry stamp from the Bright Blossom stamp set!  I know it will be cute in any color, but since I’ve been thinking about summer I started thinking about some of my summer favorites and blackberries are definitely on my list of favorites!

I think this would be a great gift for a friend filled with some ripe handpicked summer blackberries!  I know that I would love a gift of these as a little summer surprise! Can you just taste them bursting with flavor in your mouth? Are you ready for summer yet?

Stamps: Bright Blossoms
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Concord Crush, Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade marker
Accessories: In Color Glimmer Brads, Concord Crush 1/2” Stitched Poly Ribbon
Tools: 1-3/8 Circle Punch, 1-3/4” Circle Punch, Big Shot, Fancy Favor Box
Technique(s): Two-Step Stamping, Doodling

Thank you for visiting!  See you tomorrow for more fun with the Bright Blossoms stamp set and more Summer Smooches!  Enjoy!

Easter Framelit Box

Incorporating Fabric as Texture in your Paper creations

Welcome back subscribers of Paper and Pixels! I’m thrilled to be able to share with you another project that uses the same technique outlined in this most recent edition. It’s also good to be back this year sharing with all of you again!

I’ve been experimenting with Stampin’ UP!’s newest product in the Occasions Mini Catalog, the Labels Framelits, as well as the Designer Series Fabric line, Flirtatious.  I enjoy trying new ideas and that is how I came to make this cute little box!  You may think that the box is covered in paper, but it is actually cardstock covered in fabric!  I wasn’t sure if the Framelit would cut through fabric, yet it cut through beautifully! 

A quick tip: Cut through the fabric side first when using Framelits. The Big Shot and dies make working with fabric and paper a breeze! The Stampinin’ Up! Paper cutter also works nice when cutting the cardstock already adhered to the fabric!  Its wonderful when your tools work together nicely, isn’t it?

If you haven’t tried working with Stampin’ UP!’s fabric and papers yet, this is a FABULOUS way to get started!  I love how touchable this project is and it is sure to elicit a WOW from your customers or recipients! I have to say it is more beautiful in person!!! Yeah, don’t you love it when a project comes together?!

All the beautiful fabric, paper, ink and embellishments can be purchased through my online store or directly through me! During Stampin’ UP!’s Sale-a-bration event (ends March 31) you can get the lovely Flirtatious Fabric for FREE with a minimum $50 product order, plus I’ll send directions for completing this box and the lovely embellishments when your Sale-a-bration order ships!!!

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

The technique used for covering cardstock with fabric can be found in the current edition of Paper and Pixels along with additional ideas.

Sale-a-bration Happiness

Have you looked through the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog yet?  If you haven’t, your missing out on some fun ideas and projects and FREE yummy goodies for your stamping and crafting projects! 

I have probably looked a zillion times already    through that catalog.  The last time I looked through the Sale-a-bration Mini catalog I saw something that hadn’t originally caught my eye…the Everyday Elegance Simply Sent card kit.  It sells for $11.95 in the Idea Book and Catalog, but during the Sale-a-bration event, you can get it for FREE with a $50 product purchase.  Now it might be more fun for you to create your own cards from scratch, but did you ever think about using the card and adhesive die cuts as elements on a project?  The polka dot cards are so beautifully die cut and embossed that it makes it a wonderful piece to cut up and use on your projects! I just love them!

The project utilizes the one envelope, card and an accompanying adhesive die cut plus some extras to create this wonderful quick gift card holder and card set! With banners being all the rage, I used the self-adhesive die cut to create a quick banner using the cherry cobbler baker’s twine and the adorable mini clothespins! The clothespins are the perfect way to keep the gift card safe inside!

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

The envelopes included in this set are extra sturdy and require a good scoring tool when creating the super quick gift card holder.  Consider using the Simply Scored Tool when making your selection for scoring tools!

This wonderful project will be created at my  Hostess Club in April.  If you are in or near the Allen, TX area and are interested in seeing what my Hostess Clubs are all about please contact me for more information.

Treat Cup Fun

These fun little cups make an ordinary project extraordinary. When we create something that appeals to more than one of our senses the recipient will be overjoyed!  This month I’ll be sharing at a technique class how I created this fun little box that holds an extra surprise. Perfect for shower favors, birthday party favors and more!

These adorable little cups can hold snacks such as candies, cookies, goldfish crackers as well as other small gift items.  I thought flower seeds would be perfect for your gardener friends or birdseed for your fair weathered friends?  What unique items can you think of to add to this gift item? 

Are you missing out on all the fun because you don’t live close to me?  This cute little box template with paper cutting guide can be yours for FREE if you place a $30 online order with me during the month of March! Place a $50 Sale-a-bration online order and you can get the Enchantment Designer Paper for FREE too!  Visit my website today to place your order! Do you live near the Allen, TX area?  Contact me to reserve your seat for the class!

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Stamping with Gesso

So, I got the hint with all the comments that I was  receiving that many of you have never used Gesso before.  *oops*  Well, I used it for the first time when I stamped on the Muslin Bags that I posted earlier this week.  I have to admit I was a bit vague on how I used the Gesso.  Today, I am here to show you what I did to make the fall leaves muslin bag from start to finish as some of you inquired about the water coloring too.  *smile*

Supplies needed:  Gesso, Paint brush, some cardboard scraps and your muslin bag or fabric piece.

 

Why use Gesso?  When you stamp directly on fabric, the ink is absorbed into the fabric and produces a very light image.  You lose most of the brightness from the colors. By using Gesso, you are creating a “canvas” or surface on which your stamps will adhere and allow for the brightness or true color of your inks to show. 

Question to ask yourself before you get started…can you be patient with drying time?  If you answered “no”…get out your heat gun now!

Step 1: Paint the Gesso on your fabric.  Insert a piece of cardboard under your fabric or inside the bag.  Squirt some Gesso onto another piece of cardboard.  The first time I did this, I painted once in one direction, dried with a heat gun and once in the other direction and then dried with a heat gun.  (I paint vertically each time and turn the fabric.) It worked.  This time, I painted twice in each direction.  So I allowed the Gesso to dry naturally 4 times switching directions each time. The second time it worked better and the surface I created was much smoother.  Play around with the Gesso until you get your desired results.  We learn by trying new things!

Step 2: Dye your fabric. So, I forgot to dye the fabric before I stamped.  I highly suggest that you dye your fabric before stamping.  Warning: My dyeing methods require spritzing or dye wash which could run your water colored image if you dye after you stamp! If you don’t have coffee or tea to stain your fabric. You can create your own dye wash with a bit of water and any of the Stampin’ Up! reinkers. Take a ziploc bag and put just enough water to saturate your fabric.  Add drops of reinker until you get the desired color. Add your bag or fabric into the ziploc and squish around until bag is colored. I hope you know what squishing is!

Step 3: Stamp with Water Color Crayons. Select your Water Color Crayons and color directly onto the stamp. Don’t worry about coloring over the colors, just make sure the entire image is colored.  Now spritz with a water bottle.  I spritzed twice about 3 inches away to get the results pictured.  Stamp on the Gessoed section. When the images were dry, okay almost dry, I stamped the other images in Stazon.

If you noticed, the images blurred together nicely and the lined images are no longer available to see. Try stamping the image with ink again over the water colored images for a more detailed look.

 

This is the completed muslin bag with the Gesso rectangle, coffee dyed and water colored with Stampin’ Up!’s Watercolor Crayons.  Because I dyed after the stamping, some of my colors ran a bit, but I still like the overall look of it.

Thanks to all of you that keep me on the straight and narrow!  *smile* 

Thanks for visiting and I always appreciate comments!

Enjoy!

Pay it Forward with a Gratitude Box

So glad you could make it over to see my newest box creation today.  This gratitude box holds a bunch of tiny cards that you can give out to anyone that makes your day special. I created 12 mini cards, but the box can easily hold twice that! 

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of focusing on “bad” service I receive when I am out.  I have been really trying to pick out the good that I see.  I have given out a couple of these cards to the wonderfully sweet polite Checker at my local grocery store, and to the happy lady at my dry cleaner who always smiles at me even though it is way too early for normal people to be up! *smile*

The 2” x2” cards were specifically designed only for a quick note, not a novel and are a great way to make a connection with the people around you!  With the Anniversary of 9/11 just a few short days behind us, these connections are what holds our country together.  This gratitude box is a great way to thank someone, a friend, neighbor, colleague, or new friend for making your day.

This project was designed for the Paper and Pixels online magazine.  Step-by-Step directions for this box can be found in the September 2011 Edition of Paper and Pixels . I’m thrilled to be a part of their anniversary issue!

All Products are Stampin’ UP! and can be purchased through me directly or via my online demonstrator website.

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Stamps: Elements of Style
Paper: Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper, Crumb Cake Cardstock, Window Sheet
Ink: Versamark, Jet Black Stazon
Accessories: 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Antique Brads, Clear Embossing Powder
Tools: Tabletop Paper Cutter, Paper Cutter with Score Blade, Hobby Blade, Ruler and Pencil (household items), Sticky Strip, Paper Snips, Heat Gun

Thank you for stopping by and for your comments!

Enjoy!

 

 

Can you see me doing a happy dance? ;0)

Stampin’ Up! and Muslin Bags

Hello!

It has been a crazy past month and a half with school starting and all the events and excitement that comes when the children are off to school again.  I’ve also been busy designing some of my unique projects for the Seaside Crafts Bulk Buy group, for the upcoming issue of Paper and Pixels, my newest Stampin’ Up! classes as well as some other ventures.  It has been an exciting time and I’m glad that I can start sharing with you what I’ve been busy working on!

Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite new items that is being offered through the Seaside Crafts Bulk Buy group.  I love these muslin bags and they are perfect as card sacks or shower favors, candy bags or whatever you need to contain in a little sack!  A unique way to present a small gift for sure!

Because these little bags are made of cloth they lend themselves to being stained, dyed, or stamped upon. In fact, Regina Andari at Workin’ Out the Inks, even ironed on a My Digital Studio(MDS) creation on one of these for Halloween!  I love that Stampin’ UP! products are a perfect fit for these little cloth treasures!

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How I did that:

The first bag was spritzed with coffee until it was stained to my desired color.  The dress form and dress were glued onto the muslin bag using tombow multi-purpose adhesive. I thought this would be perfect for a wedding shower favor filled with candies.

The second bag was dyed with Stampin’ Up!’s Pool Party reinker and some water.  I used gesso to create a section that I could stamp on.  I used Stampin’ Up!’s Craft style ink to get a truer image over the gesso.  Stamping directly on the muslin with the Stampin’ UP! dye inks works just fine but you’ll get a muted image rather than a sharp image.

I used gesso on the third bag and again used coffee to stain that bag as well.  I used watercolor crayons and the French Foliage stamp to create the watercolored leaves on the gesso. A set of 4 Stampin’ Up!’s 5” x 3.5” note cards and envelopes (107311) fit perfectly in this 5” x 7” bag.

Update:  Check out this post for a tutorial using Gesso.

Thank you for stopping by and for your comments! 

Enjoy!

 

 

Tomorrow the Anniversary issue of Paper and Pixels is out!  Please stop by to see pictures of my Gratitude Box created specially for Paper and Pixels here!

The All Occasion Card

So what have I been doing these last few weeks?  Not stamping that was for sure!  I had family and friends from out of town visiting and then a quick trip to Chicago was in order.  This past weekend I was in Waxahachie, TX at the cutest little Bed and Breakfast. If you ever are down in that area with your friends or your honey let me know and I’ll get you the information!  It was just charming!  It accommodated us four gals just perfectly!I actually had a few minutes to begin designing these cards in Waxahachie, but only today did I have the chance to put it all together!  I love giving the gift of cards for birthdays, parties, or any other special event.  I usually like to give cards that can be used for any occasion because the recipient will use the cards that I have made for them.  If you give a set of various occasions then the possibility exists that the cards may be haunting a drawer for some time until the specific need arises. 

This gift set contains 4 simple cards and envelopes.  I’ve made this fun matching file folder gift packaging to hold them.  I love this long ribboned closure!  So elegant! The packaging becomes a beautiful conversation piece if left out in the open. The ribbon can be used as a necklace with the “No. 5” charm. And after the cards are used, the owner can add some dried mix packets, seed packets, etc. and regift the packaging.  I think I may have said this  before, but I love making things that can be reused!

Please tell me…what do you think of the stripes?  I actually got the inspiration after seeing a card made with striped paper.  It was easy to create the stripes with what I had on hand and a sharp paper cutter. Scrap paper strips were handy to have for this project!

Stamps:   Clearly for You (2011 Occasions Mini), Artistic Etchings 
Papers:   Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink:  Jet Black Stazon,
Accessories: Glass Fragment,  Hodgepodge Hardware (retired) 
Tools: 1” Circle Punch, Paper Cutter, Crystal Effects
Techniques Used:  Stripes

Finished size of gift folder is 5-1/2” x 6”.

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!