May 13, 2019 | Projects |
Today, Stampin’ Up! demonstrators around the world have been having a Lovely as a Tree farewell party. ‘Why this stamp set’?, you may ask. This has been the longest serving stamp set in Stampin’ Up! history, being introduced into the 2007-2008 catalogue. It’s service to stampers worldwide warranted a special send off. We have been sharing memories and ideas with this timeless stamp set on the Facebook Demonstrator page. Anyone who is a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator can be part of this group where we find ideas, inspiration and encouragement.
We have also been welcoming the latest addition to ‘tree’ like stamps – Rooted in Nature. Together, these stamps can work side by side to create beautiful works of art. My project combines both these sets to create a cute treat bag or gift bag to fill with something special.
I started off by using my scraps of Calypso Coral cardstock to add the stripes between the gold stripes on the bag. Those scraps never go to waste in my craft room and they were perfect for this project.
The tree was stamped in Old Olive and then I added some Crushed Curry and Calypso Coral with a sponge dauber. I used the Tea Room Memories & More Card Pack for the panel behind the tree and also for the sentiment. These colours tied in well with the chosen colour palette.
To create the leaves, I first brushed water liberally over a piece of Shimmery White cardstock. Then I sprinkled Gambouche and a tiny bit of Brilliant Red Brusho Crystal over it. Once dry, I stamped the leaves in Calypso Coral and die cut them.
This bag was not complete without a doily. These coloured doilies are great because they are white on one side which make them suitable for altering the colour as well with Markers, Blends or ink.
Since I had prepared this post, this lovely stamp set has sold out. However, the Rooted in Nature stamp set is available. Buy as a bundle and save.
During the current catalogue you can get the Rooted in Nature stamp and Nature’s Root dies as a bundle which will save you 10% of the total price. Although these 2 items are carrying over into the new catalogue, they will NOT be bundled and will only be available as separate items.
The treat bags, Brusho Crystals and some other items are retiring as well so if there’s something you like then it’s best to get it before it’s too late.
Create this Project at Home
May 12, 2019 | Projects, Special Occasions |
Happy Mother’s Day!
To all you lovely ladies who are doing the best job of all – being a mum, to those who are step-in mums and care givers and those Dads who take the place of mum. Hope your little ones (or not so little ones) show you the love and appreciation you deserve on your special day.
I am blessed to be mum to my daughter Cassidy. She is a kind and caring lady and amazes me with her compassionate spirit to see the good in everyone. I am also thankful to God for blessing me with a kind, caring, Christian mother who was always there to listen and was always telling us and showing my sister and me that she loved us. My project today is a tribute to my mum who passed away 17 years ago, the day before Mother’s Day. That was a very tough Mother’s Day to go through.
The photo I have chosen for my scrapbook page is one that brings back a beautiful memory for me. I remember this framed photo sat on my Dad’s desk until the day he passed away – they had been married for 39 years and he missed Mum so much when she had gone. This photo shows my mum sitting at a typewriter. This was taken at her workplace but I also remember her typing aerogrammes (who remembers them?) and pages and pages of letters to friends and relatives.
Mum and Dad’s love story began at their joint workplace – Back to the Bible Broadcast. This was a Christian radio ministry. My Mum was involved in the music – playing piano and accordion and administrative work. So I think this photo had special significance to my Dad.
This scrapbook page just had to have orchids because my mum loved purple Singapore orchids. I had the perfect stamp for this didn’t I? The Orchid Builder stamp and die set worked perfectly.
I used a retired 12’x12′ Basic Black cardstock sheet as my base. Then I created the watercolour wash on the Shimmery White cardstock using Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Mango Melody and Calypso Coral. I inked separate Clear Blocks for each colour and using an aqua painter, washed the colour onto the Shimmery Cardstock.
Once this piece had dried, I added the Timeless Textures stamp in Highland Heather. The Sheet Music stamp further captures this tribute, remembering my mum’s love of music. Her ‘other’ job was teaching piano at home and in the early days going by bus to the student’s homes to teach them. Lots of sacrifice was made to help our family.
I inked only part of music stamp by ripping a piece of paper and covering part of it, inking it up and then stamping it. This creates that unfinished look on the stamped image.
The orchids were stamped in Basic Grey and I added Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape and Rich Razzleberry with sponge dabuers to colour them. These orchids are easy to create with the coordinating dies. The centres have been stamped in Mango Melody onto So Saffron cardstock.
To create the leaves, I water coloured a piece of Shimmery White cardstock with Old Olive and Shaded Spruce ink. Once dry, I stamped the leaves in Shaded Spruce and die cut them. The flowers and leaves have been laid onto a branch from the Seasonal Layers die.
I then incorporated the typewriter from the lovely P.S. You’re the Best stamp set which has a vintage look about it. Some colour was stamped onto it with the Highland Heather, Mango Melody and Pineapple Punch.
The addition of of the Delicate Lace Edgelits and a doily adds a softness which reflects my mum’s character and her sense of style. A few rhinestones coloured with the Dark Highland Heather Stampin’ Blend embellishes this layout perfectly.
I chose this Bible verse because my sister and I were truly blessed to have this special lady as our mum. I have used the Story Label punch, which is available in the new catalogue, to write out my sentiment.
Enjoy your day.
Products used for this Project
Apr 22, 2019 | Projects |
Stampin’ Up! Gable Boxes are the perfect box to package all kinds of gifts. Chocolates, guest soaps, bath salts, tealight candles all will look so pretty in these boxes which can be decorated in many ways. You can decorate them with Designer Series Paper, spritz them, stamp them and the list goes on.
These boxes come scored and folded so it’s a matter of just opening it up and putting the tabs in the slots. No gluing necessary. They are on the last chance item list and I wanted to look back at a couple of projects I had done using both the white and silver boxes.
This is the Lustrous White Gable box decorated for a birthday. You could make it a party in a box with party poppers, balloon, little cake, candle and sprinkles. Click on the photo to be taken to the full post with products used.
Here is the Silver Gable box which I decorated and filled with gift tags for teacher gifts at Christmas. So easy to decorate and yet perfect to hold a gift. Click on the image to be taken to the original post which has all the details.
My Newsletter which is due out tomorrow features a brand new project using this product. Sign up to receive details and other helpful tips and news.
Product List
Jan 5, 2019 | Projects |
My project today packages the Butterfly Elements which is a free Sale-A-Bration product you can get with a $90 purchase. What a lovely gift this would make for a crafty friend or for crafty you.
I have used also used the Sale-A-Bration Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper. To punch out the butterfly, cut out a section of the DSP. Then use a post-it-note as a ‘handle’ to help you maneuver it into the punch. This means you won’t waste any of that beautiful paper.
Cut a strip of the Designer Series Paper and wrap it around, attaching it with double sided tape at the join. Add the tag created with the Daffodil Delight Gingham Gala DSP layered onto Balmy Blue cardstock. I love the cheerfulness of these 2 colours. Pop on your butterfly with some mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and you have a cute little gift for a friend.
Purchases that total $90 will receive your choice of a free Sale-A-Bration Level 1 item. There are also products available for a $180 purchase (Level 2 item) There is no limit to the number of items you can choose. So if you spend $180 you can either choose 2 x Level 1 items or 1 x Level 2 item.
For a full list of Sale-A-Bration items click on the image below.
Product List
Dec 16, 2018 | Projects |
How many of you are rushing around at the moment looking for gifts and then once you get that perfect gift, you want to find the perfect wrapping but you really don’t have hours to spend on it. Today I’ve got a cute little pillow box to share with you. These are ready made boxes which come cut and scored and all you need to do is fold them, add a little double sided tape to hold the bottom end together and it’s ready to decorate.
Pretty packaging that doesn’t take ages to come together is what today’s project is about. I filled these with 10 gift tags and gave it to the lovely staff who work in our canteen at school. They are always so helpful and friendly and do an amazing job.
Embellishing this was very quick. The doily looks really nice against the white dots on the box. I then added a circle punched with that gorgeous glimmer paper which adds some Christmas sparkle.
The reindeer was coloured with Stampin’ Blends. I didn’t go to great lengths with the colouring as I wanted this to be a really quick project – you know Christmas – short on time – so many things to do etc. etc. To add sparkle to the bell on the bow, I added shimmer paint with an aqua painter which has no water in it so I could pick up the colour from the lid.
You could fill this with jewellery, cash or any other trinket and it’s such a cute and quick packaging that you could get several done in a short time.
Product List
Dec 9, 2018 | Projects, Step-It-Up Sunday |
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for stopping by today. I’ve been a little bit scarce with my blogging lately. Main reason – Christmas. I’ve been madly prepping cards and gifts.. In my day job, I work at a school in administration. I receive lots of lovely gifts and cards from the staff I work with. To share Christmas with all these lovely people, I make each of them a card – there are about 100 staff. Then there’s all the cards for the rest of the friends and my orders. No matter how much I prepare early, it’s still a bit crazy at the end.
I’ve also made about 400 gift tags to give away as gifts. I thought these would make lovely teacher gifts for my daughter Cassidy to give her teachers. So today’s Step-it-Up Sunday shows you the gift packaging. The idea is made simple with our Gable Boxes.
Basic
Cut a strip of Designer Series Paper to a width of 5cm. Wrap this round the entire gable box, adhering the edges with liquid glue as you fold it along the edges. There will be a gap as the paper doesn’t reach all the way around – make this the front of your project. You will cover this gap with your image.
Punch a circle from Tranquil Tide cardstock and then emboss it with the Swirls and Curls embossing folder. Attach with glue. Stamp and punch out the tag. Adhere with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Tie a bow around the handle.
Intermediate
Add another layer to the focal point by die cutting a doily from the Spot of Tea dies. To make the glimmer paper go further, I die cut the smaller doily inside the larger one at the same time. This gave me a frame to use on this project and a second doily to use on another project.
Advanced
To step up this project, stamp and colour in the holly from the Peaceful Poinsettias bundle. Then die cut it.
Fill this with gift tags, chocolates, mini soaps to give as gifts.
Have a really enjoyable week. Hope your Christmas preparations go smoothly.
