Still Stamping

Start your 2012 Family Year-in-Review Photobook Now!

The sample I'm sharing today is at the end of the post and was created by a Guest Artist.  Wait until you see her beautiful page!

Why wait until 2013 to start your 2012 "yearbook"?  With My Digital Studio, you can start your album now, save it, and work on it little by little throughout the year.  Advantages:

• You don't have to get out tons of supplies and photos, work a while then pack it all away to finish another day.
• You can journal while the event is fresh in your mind, so that you can capture the feelings, a little quote, a special memory.
• You won't feel overwhelmed by the thought of getting an entire year's photos into a book with a deadline, because you've worked on it all year long.
• You'll save money by not printing photos that end up not getting used in the finished book.  You'll be using the digital version, and can pick the very best photos.

If you are a digital scrapbooker already, you may have some other ideas to share.  Write a comment and I'll add your idea to the list of "Why You Should Give Digital Scrapbooking A Try."

And if you have already been considering it, there's no better time to get started than now.  Remember, Stampin' Up! is going to let you try the fanatastic "My Digital Studio" for 30 days at no cost.  During that time, you can even get your 2011 Year in Review book done, if you are inspired to do so.

Today's share is a fabulous page from my friend Judy Jackson's 2011 In Review Family Photobook.  By creating it digitally, she was able to complete it in very little time and have multiple copies printed for her children and grandchildren.  What a wonderful keepsake for them.  I've started doing the same for my grandkids, and they love looking at "their book".

 

Got Chocolate?

I have some samples to share with you, all made using the Eat Chocolate stamp set, available exclusively from Stampin' Up!   It's in the current Occassions Mini Catalog, available only until March 31.  If you are (or know) a chocolate lover, you need this stamp set!  I had fun making a variety of cards and treat holders using it, and I'll be sharing them with you throughout the week.

Let's start with some treats.

I've found the Two Tags die for the Big Shot to be very versatile.  It makes tags, obviously, but with a little tweaking, you can also make tiny notepads, photo holders, and treat holders like I've done here.  That's a miniature Hershey bar peeking out the ends.

A little custom gusset at the bottom allows for the thickness of the candy, and the embossed oval protrudes a tiny bit over the edge so that it catches in the slot to keep it closed without any adhesive.  I love the way it turned out.  cClick on the small picture to get a better view.

Here's another one.  This time I chose the Fancy Favor Box. Notice that the embossed Rose Red panel echoes the decorative shape at the top.  There are lots of layers on the front of the box, all leading the eye to the stamped "To Do List" image.  Inside, a cello bag holds a generous quanity of chocolates, all tied up with a pretty bow (which you can't see from this angle, but trust me, it's in there).

There will be more Eat Chocolate treat box ideas and some cards, too.  I even have a scrapbook page in mind to show off some photos of my youngest granddaughter Charlotte eating her Easter candy.  Enough said?  You can use your imagination until I get that one posted.  She's a cutie, even covered with melted chocolate.

I hope you've read to the end, because I have an incredible offer to extend to you.  As you may have read, Stampin' Up! gave each Leadership Conference attendee a chance to sign up one new demonstrator for FREE this week.   I'm still searching for a person who would like to be a part of my team.  Contact me by email at carol@stillstamping.com or by telephone, and we'll talk about it. With all that Stampin' Up! has to offer, it's a great opportunity to be your own boss, earn extra cash, meet new friends, learn, and most of all, share what you love.

Until tomorrow,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Tags Die makes two non-tags

I like using my Stampin' Up! exclusive Two Tags Bigz Sizzix die.  This post features two different projects using the same supplies:  a bookmark and a mini post-it note pad holder.

 
Here's what I used:

card stock - Peach Parfait, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Basic Black.

designer series paper - scraps of retired DSP - punches are a fantastic way to use up those scraps!

punches and dies:  Two Tags die, circles die, 1 3/4" circle punch, extra-large scallop circle punch, owl punch

stamp:  Hello again ink:  Basic Black

The scallop circle is only attached to the tag die-cut along the top edge.  This allows the bookmark to hook over the top of the page of your book to mark your place.  This is the second project we'll be making at the Taneytown, MD, Senior Center next month.

And as promised, a second project that uses many of the same tools and materials - this time it's a little post it note pad.  The guests at my New Catalog Kick-Off over the weekend enjoyed making this little guy.  What's not to love about an adorable owl with wiggle eyes?

If I haven't already mentioned it, I want you to always feel free to contact me whenever you have a question about any project.  I'll try to help you out if I can.  Enjoy the little owl projects!

Carol Taggart

carol@stillstamping.com

Keep It Under Your Hat --- your Witch's Hat

Or perhaps I should say keep it in your hat.  This Halloween Witch's hat is a box containing a Treat.  And the box is a very clever Trick.  It's the old favorite, the Triangle Box.  Start with a rectangle of card stock, do some scoring and folding, and voila.... a little box. 

I was inspired by the hat in this post by Kerin Sylvester.  Kerin gives credit to Connie Collins.  Isn't it great how Stampin' Up! Demonstrators share their ideas so freely?  Gotta love it.  

The ingredients are quite simple.... toad's toes, lizard teeth, dead leaves, seaweed, spider web....

Oh, no, that's the wrong recipe.  Let's see, oh here it is.

Card stock: Basic Black, Green Galore, Rich Razzleberry

Punches: Curly Label, Modern Label, Crop-a-Dile

Other: Grosgrain ribbon, Adhesive (I used Tombow Liquid Glue), candy to fill (Halloween M&M's)

Fiskars 12" paper trimmer, (scoring blade), bone folder.

If you've never tried to make a Triangle Box, you should give it a go.  It's a lot of fun and will amaze the recipient with how clever it is.  Need details?  Email me and I'll be happy to provide them for you.

Carol Taggart
 

A Paper-Quilted Box

Strip Quilting (also known as string quilting) is the perfect way to use up narrow strips of fabric.  I have lots of strips of card stock and designer paper beside my paper trimmer after I've cut all of the layers for cards and scrapbook pages, so I decided to do a different pattern of "quilt".  The strips are layed in a random pattern in parallel and perpendicular lines onto the adhesive-covered base, then cut out with the Big Shot and the Top Note Die.

  Added into the mix is a layer of lightweight chipboard.  The Big Shot cuts through mulitiple layers with ease.  This is a sweet little box, which turned out to be very sturdy as well as pretty.

 

The flap shown here slides inside the box, allowing it to open and close many times and keeps the box closed securely.

It'll be fun to give a little gift in a box that will be kept and used as much as the gift inside.

Super Bowl Sunday AND Sale-a-Bration Kick-Off

Well it is indeed a wonderful day to be alive - and a Steelers fan - and a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  The sun is shining, the sky is clear, the temps are rising, the ice is melting.
I know that many of you will be watching the big game later today, and you won't have time for doing much stamping or web surfing or online shopping.  But when you finally DO get time to read this article, I hope you'll take advantage of all that Sale-a-Bration has to offer.

To Kick Off the event, I'd like to share a card I made using a stamp set and Designer Series Paper that you can get for FREE!  The paper is called Delicate Dots. and the stamp set is Polka Dot Punches.
Both are new releases and are not for sale --- they're free during the Sale-a-Bration event (Feb. 1 - March 31).  You can choose one free gift from the Sale-a-Bration mini-catalog with every $50 purchase of merchandise from the 2009 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog.  Don't have those catalogs?  Not to worry -- check them out by clicking on the links in the right-hand column.

I made this card for a Sale-a-Bration swap I joined.  I will be sharing many of the cards I received in the swap in the coming weeks.  They are such great designs that I want you to enjoy them as much as I do.

The stripes in the DSP are white, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and Sahara Sand.  So those are the colors I chose for the card -- and I used them all.  The flower medallions were such fun to make that I made loads of them and then used up scraps of the DSP to make some alternative designs for the card.

The little flower sits on a folded piece of celery narrow grosgrain ribbon and then on a So Saffron 1 3/4" circle (also punched out, of course).

  Notice how easy it was to make the flower - the Five-Petal Punch made it possible for me to punch out dozens of the flowers after I stamped and embossed them.  Image how difficult that would have been without the punch.

I did make one more card with the same materials and mounted the accent strip and flower on a Bashful Blue card.  I'll show you that one later in the month.

Hope you'll check back often to see more wonderful samples of Sale-a-Bration artwork done by guest artists and myself.

And Good Luck to the Pittsburgh Steelers!!

A Girly Gift

You may be thinking ahead to Mother's Day, but this little purse would be perfect for birthdays and bridal showers, as well.
I've shown it here holding a gift card for my Mom.

You could make it a card by just stamping the inside, or a very special card by making it into an explosion card.  Or, attach pages inside to make it into a mini photo album or journal.

This will be a project at my next class, scheduled for  April 18 (7 p.m.) and April 19 (1 p.m.)  Participants will take home a completed project as well as a template to make more at home.  E-mail me to sign up for the class.  This is such a fun project, you won't want to miss it.

And demonstrators, you can see a tutorial online soon on the Sudsol  website.  If you're not a member yet, you're missing out on a fabulous resource for your business and inspiration for your creative projects as well.  Please be sure to mention that you were referred by me when you register.  I know you'll love it.

Here's how I finished off the inside of my little Gift Card Holder Purse.  I'm so anxious to try out some other of the gorgeous Designer Series Papers and coordinating card and ribbons.  And I'll also try some of the other ideas I mentioned - the explosion card
and the mini scrapbook.  I'm thinking some nice Spring colors, maybe some floral papers.

And once you have made your own Purse Gift Card Holder, be sure to send me the scan or digital picture to enjoy.  I'd love to see what you have created.

Friendship Blooms Flip Flap

Although I do love the In Colors in the Stampin' Up! Spring and Summer 2008 Collection, I find that I often fall back on some of my favorite "old" color schemes.  Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Mellow Moss (all exclusive Stampin' Up! colors from the Soft Subtles family) are always a sure winner.

This card combines several techniques:  masking, sponging, layering, Stampin' Around wheel, a special fold, and a really cool embellishment: Build a Brad.

On the Mellow Moss flap, we wheeled the So Swirly jumbo wheel.  The Glossy White panel was stamped first with Black Stazon ink, masked, then sponged and overstamped with Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Mellow Moss coordinating inks.  Remove the mask and the white flower seems to pop off the page.

Take a look at the close-up of the Build-a-Brad.  The center flower is  from Little Pieces , stamped, punched out, and glued onto the brad base.  Top with the acrylic dome and you have a stunning accent.

Want to see how this card opens?

 

Celebrate Friendship

Last week I offered the opportunity to stamp 12 beautiful cards to send to your friends - all in one evening!  We made multiples of four different designs, which I'll be featuring on this blog in the coming days.

Pictured on the left are four variations of one of the cards.  It's actually a card in a pocket, and it showcases the gorgeous Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper, Fall Flowers.  All four of the pockets pictured here are from the same pack of paper and coordinating card stock and ink in Sahara Sand, Old Olive and Soft Sky. 

The large filigree image and the center of the circular medallion are both stamps in the Carte Postale stamp set by Stampin' Up!  The sentiment is also Stampin' Up!, from In My Thoughts. 

Some of the cards feature double-stitched Soft Sky ribbon, others use narrow bands of the Designer Paper as the accent band.  (Recycling can be very creative!) 

So why not go to your stack of Designer Series Paper and challenge yourself to make one of these right now.  You'll have fun, and your friend will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Good Things Come In Small Packages

Being a petite person (5'2"), I've always taken that old saying as a compliment!  I know it refers to gifts such as jewelry, which is always a welcome gift for me.  But there are many wonderful presents that can be wrapped in pretty little boxes such as the one I'm showing you here.

We made this box on Thursday at my Stampers Six Club meeting.  We seem to always have either rain or snow here in South/Central PA and northern Maryland on the days our club meetings are scheduled, and this month the snow fell a day early, so everyone was able to come!  What a fun time we had!  Of course there's always a lot of laughter, conversation, good food, and stamping fun.  You should make time in your schedule to join a Stampin' Up! Club - you deserve it!  Contact me for the details.  If you're in my Hanover area, I'd love to have you in my club.

The box is based on the 2-5-7-10 Box Tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  You'll find the complete directions here.  And here's the side view of the completed box.

This box is Stampin' Up's Orchid Opulence card stock.  The background is very quickly stamped with the Doodles Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel and the Lovely Lilac ink cartridge.  There's a scalloped edge on the flap of the box, but it's very clever cut using the Corner Rounder punch, believe it or not!  And the main decoration on the box is the Happy Birthday stamp from the exclusive, limited-edition Sale-a-Bration stamp set, So Many Scallops, inked with various Bold Brights markers (Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac, Pixie Pink and Brilliant Blue) and punched out with the Scalloped Circle Punch.... of course!  Hmmm, now to decide what to put inside it when I give it to my friend for her birthday next month.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

The Weather Channel and the local weathermen are all proclaiming doom and gloom - a major winter storm is heading our way.  Actually, my area here in south central Pennsylvania probably won't get all that much snow this time.  But because of the forecast, I'm posting this little project for you today.  I was inspired by punched-out snowmen on a couple of blogs I visited, and I decided to design a little tag using the idea.  The stamp set is the soon-to-be-retired Cold Play, which I call the Build-a-Snowman set.  It is such a fun set to use for cards, gifts, tags, and scrapbooking.  If you don't already own it, don't miss the opportunity to get it now, before it's gone forever.  The set includes two different hat stamps for your stamped snowmen, but I chose to use punches instead.

Can you find all of the punches I used?  From the top:  the corners are nipped off with the Tag Corner Punch, the crown of the hat is half of the Key Tag Punch, the band and brim of the hat are the Word Window Punch, the flower is part of the Spring Flower Bouquet Punch (also retiring), the center of the flower is the 1/4" Circle Punch, and the snowman's head is the 1 1/4" Circle Punch.  All of those punches can be seen in the current Stampin' Up! Fall and Winter Collection. 

So if you're expecting snow where you live and don't feel like getting cold and wet building an actual snowman, get out your punches and scraps of cardstock, some ink pads and your Cold Play stamp set, and build a snowman in your craft room instead.  Enjoy!

Christmas Crunch

I have been very remiss about sharing my recent projects with you, and I apologize!  I'm beginning to feel that Holiday Hurry, that Christmas Crunch, where the days are flying by too fast and the deadlines are drawing nearer by the minute.  I know that you must be feeling the same.  Even the most organized of people are super busy and stressed at this time of year. 

Therefore I've decided to do two things to simplify my life a bit.  One: I'll share a few of the great projects we made at my most recent class, "Pick a Pack of Pretty Paper."  It focused on the fabulous Designer Series Papers from Stampin' Up! and ways to showcase those lovely colors and patterns.    Two:  I'll finish my Christmas shopping with gift cards.  It's not my favorite gift to give or to receive, but I don't enjoy shopping in the malls these days, and gifts bought online might not arrive in time to wrap and ship to my family.  So gift cards it'll be.

This gift card envelope is indeed one of the class projects.  I adapted it from one that was demonstrated at the Virginia Beach Regionals earlier in the year.  It is actually a traditional folded origami "wallet".  The ones I've seen previously were small, sized to hold plastic gift cards, credit cards, driver's license, etc.  I decided to enlarge it to make it a standard A-2 size for mailing.  And as you can see from the next photo, it holds the gift card in its original packaging.

The DSP (Designer Series Paper) is heavy weight and printed on both sides, so folding this was easy and fun.  I wanted to be sure to show off the contrast in colors and patterns on the two sides.  The main colors in this particular paper (from the Holiday Harmony DSP) are Always Artichoke and River Rock.

The last photo shows the card/envelope open.  I did cheat a little and used scissors and a tiny glue dot or two (true origami would not do that, I think).  And I tied a pretty organdy ribbon around it to finish the "packaging" and keep it closed.  The ribbon slips off so that the bow doesn't have to be retied. 

I'm happy with my little creation, and so were the ladies who attended the class.  I'm already thinking ahead to January and doing another one focusing on the DSP.  The new papers coming our way in the upcoming Spring and Summer Collection are gorgeous!!!  If you live in the Hanover, PA area or in northern Maryland, come and join us for the next class.  Or better yet, join the next round of the Stampers Six Club, beginning in January.  E-mail me for the details.

Leave a comment, tell me how you like it!  I might be convinced to do a tutorial for you.  Until the next time, happy stamping!