The Stamper

Oh, so much chocolate!

I only know a few people who do not enjoy chocoate so this cute gift bag filled with chocolate can be a great little gift for almost anyone you know.  This gift bag was created for me by my roomie at leadership.  It was made using Designer paper and cardstock.  The cardstock bottom gives firmness to the bag and allows it to stand.

The tag was punched from chipboard using the Big Shot and then covered with cardstock and desginer paper and for the fun accent my initial was die cut and added. The tag is hung with a ring and a jumbo brad was attached to the bag for the ring to hand from.

Stampin' Up! designed a very cute stamp set called Eat Chocolate and this stamp set was used along with punched to create wonderful accents to complement the treats inside. 

The part I am enjoying now I am back in Saudi is the American Chocolate bars that were inside this wonderful little package.  I must admit that the chocolate we can get here is really good, we often say better than American chocolate but there is nothing like biting into a litte taste of home now and then.  I love how each candy bar was covered with designer paper and little accents were added to make them extra special.  

Check out the mini catalog products at my stampin' web site:  http://www.wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Leadership gifts

I am in Nashville at Stampin' Up! leadership and I like to exchange gift idea with a few of my stamping friends and we do this at events.  This year I decided to bring them a little of Saudi with me, my favorite chocolate here, I think it is better than the states but I must admit we all enjoyed US chocolate at Christmas. 

I created this little package using the new Bigz L Die Petal Cone found in the new Occasions Catalog by Stampin' Up!.  I cut one piece of 5 1/2x 8 1/2 piece of the Pink Pirouette cardstock, after cutting it out I added more score lines by placing the tip of the cone on the center track of my cutter and the cone's score line on the 1/2" mark on my cutter. Score lines on both sides of the cone's score line.  It is helpful to fold down the front piece before scoring but keep the back piece tall so the score lines are correct. 

I cut the scallop and ribbon pieces out of Chocolate chip cardstock using the cone die.  I stamp with Chocolate chip ink on the front flap using Stampin' Up!'s new stamp set Clearly for You found in the Occasion mini catalog.  (This stamp set is designed to go with the Beveled Windowpanes but works great for lots of other projects)

I stamped the butterfly from the Clearly For You stamp set on a scrap of Pink Pirouette cardstock and punch it with the new 3/4 x 15/16 oval punch.  Glue the flap to the side keeping the package flat and fold ribbon piece in half, using the paper piercing tool poke hole for brad and insert it while the package is flat, add a little liquid glue under ribbon piece.  Then fold in edges to form package.  I added brads on the side for just that last little touch. 

Note: you might find it helpful to score flap from the same way as you did the sides so the flap does not get in the way when you fold up your sides. 

To order from the new mini catalog or any Stampin' Supplies check out my web site: http://www.wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Stampin' Up!'s Come to Bethlehem

People here in Arabia like anything to do with camels.  They are very unique creatures.  At the craft show a couple weeks ago I sold these camel cookie cutters with the bag topper and they were the first thing to go. 

I used Stampin' Up!'s Come to Bethlehem stamp set.  Soft Suede and Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  I stamped with Soft Suede ink. 

They are in the large flat cello bag.  I stapled the topper onto the bag behind the images.  I added the Merry Christmas greeting that had been punched using the Modern Label punch and some dimensionals. 

I thought this would be a great teacher or neighborhood gift for Christmas and the simple packaging really makes it an extra special gift. 

Stampin' Up! Merry Moments Gift Card holder

The holidays are here and we are thinking about the gifts we still need to get for those we love.  Gift cards are a great gift and what makes a gift card special is the packaging.  This gift card holder was sent to me by my up-line Sandy.  It was created with Stampin' Up!'s Merry Moments designer series paper.  I love how these papers coordinate together.  She added a bright red belly band to finish off the look.

The opening for the gift card is punched with Stampin' Up!'s word window punch.  This gift card holder is created with a half of sheet of card-stock and is scored in thirds. 

It is always fun to get hand-stamped items in the mail. Thanks to Sandy for thinking of me.

If you don't know what to get a loved one, think about giving the art of rubber stamping and scrap-booking.  I have gift certificate available and there is a wonderful gift giving guide that Stampin' Up! has created to help as well.  For every $50.00 ordered from that guide until the end of December you will receive a free $16.95 or less Decor Elements or vinyl images. Contact me for more details.

Big Shot Scallop Square die box

What a fun weekend I had, I received a box in the mail from my up-line Sandy and she had sent me some fun stamping projects.  It was perfect timing because it came right before my Starz meeting and I was able to share all these fun ideas with my group.  She sent me this die cut box that was created using the Big Shot Scallop die and the snowflakes die layered onto a square box and she added a handle.   

She also had included in the box these little gift tags that would be a great on any package.  She punched this out of whisper white card-stock on a fold so the ornamentis a mini card so you can write on the inside.  This ornament punch and Stampin' Up! Delightful Decoration stamp set are some of my favorite things from the Holiday mini catalog.  The items in this catalog are available until January 4th and after that it is anyone guess if they will be included in the next Stampin' Up! catalog that comes out in July.  If you love this item as much as I do make sure you order it before it goes away.   You can order on line at my Stampin' web site or email or call me to order.

Holiday Bread Bag

  We have just less than a month before my Gift Making Extravaganza event and this Holiday Bread Bag is the most popular project for my weekend class. 

This bag idea was shared with my STARZ group by Julia Grenier at our convention meeting and I adapted it for the Holidays.  I thought it would be the perfect size for a loaf of holiday bread to take to your neighbors or office friends.  It is easy to make and they will all look different depending of the designer paper you use. 

My class will be held Friday, November 6, and Saturday November 7, from 10 am to 10 pm each day.  The class fee is $15.00 plus supply fees depending on the projects you choose to make.  The Holiday Bread Bag is $3.00 each and should not take more than 10 minutes to make. 

Email me at wendy@thestamper.comto receive my newsletter and all the paypal links for this weekend of fun.

Udderly Awesome Meeting

 

On Saturday I taught my How to Take Better Photos class at one of my up lines' Udderly Awesome Meeting.  She meets at the Spaghetti Factory in the LA area which was not ideal for a power point presentation but it went over really well.  It was fun, because Ted traveled with me so he got to see me present, that never happens because he is usually home with the kids.  There are a few advantages to having older children who can watch the younger one especially when they are not that young anymore. 

It was fun to visit with old friends and make new ones and seeing great ideas and projects is a plus too.  Here are a few of my favorite ideas I saw.

The crow card is made by punching out different punched images and clipping and gluing them together.  He is just so cute I want to create a bunch of them for my entry way for fall.

Sweet treat cups are a big deal and several ladies had great projects made with them.  I thought this stop light box was a unique way to use them and made a fun gift box that anyone would enjoy getting. 

I also loved these great pencil holder boxes and can't wait to figure them out so I can use them in a hands on class in the future.  They are a great idea that can be adapted for any holiday or occasion and I know how much I like decorative pencils so I know my girls friends will love getting a gift like this. 

Pocket Silhouettes Card Box

I wanted to share another one of the project we will be making at my Gift Making Extravaganza event in November. 

This is another card box made using Stampin' Up!'s Pocket Silhouettes stamp set and the new Designer Series Paper called Autum Meadows from the mini catalog.  I love this paper; it is even more beautiful in person than it is in the catalog.  I love that it is double sided and that the side that is fall has a non-fall print on the opposite so this paper does not have to be fall.  It is great colors for masculine themes or just any one. 

The card box has 8 cards and envelopes, 2 each of 4 designs, in it and opens on the side with locking tabs that tuck in.  I like the look of hardware and the vanilla hardware looks great with these colors. 

I have started getting sign ups for this class and I am so excited to spend the weekend with all those who will be attending.

Gift Making Extravaganza Event

Wow, it has been a lot of work but I finally have my projects finalized and the newsletter with all the information is sent.  I started it this morning and here it is late at night and I have finally finish. 

It would have gone much quicker if I could have written it without all the distractions.  You know how it is, the phone rings and it is your parents so you talk a while, then a lunch break, then you find out you don't have enough pictures so you hope the sun will come out but after checking the weather report you know that is not going to happen at all this week so you take dark photos and hope for the best, back to the computer and more distractions, your daughter's doing her homework and thinks you can help her write a paper while you are writing an newsletter, another daughter does not want to do her practicing so she comes down to visit with you instead, another daughter keeps checking her email to see if she made the youth orchestra she tried out for on Sunday, then dinner and off to bed so you think you will have a few minutes to finish the newsletter because your husband is at a meeting and the girls are in bed or gone to meetings but alas more distractions, your husband is driving and has nothing to do but call you and talk and ask how your newsletter is coming which you inform him it would be coming along better if you were not trying to write it and talk on the phone at the same time.  And that is how the first item on my to do list did not get done until 10:PM.  I am guessing all of you have had days like this. 

Join me for this class Friday, November 6th, and Saturday November 7th from AM to PM.  The class fee is $15.00 plus project supply fees. 
Send me an email at wendy@thestamper.comto receive a newsletter with all the paypal links if you have not received it already. 

Hodgepodge Hardware Jewelry

One of the things I love about the supplies we use for card making and scrap booking is they are so versatile and can be used to create a variety of gifts. 

This necklace was made for me by my up line in Stampin' Up! Kathy, and she gave it to me as a gift at convention.  It is created using the hardware in a different way. 

She used two Raised Dot Designer holders with stamped images and glued them together so it is double sided.  She attached a flower charm at the bottom and rhinestone into the layers of crystal effects that she filled in the holder with.

I saw these done with all the different Designer Holders that come in the hardware kits.  What a perfect gift to make someone you love.

Of course the packaging was as great as the gift and she used the matchbox die and cut the bottom from Basic Black CS and the top from the new Bride specialty papers found on page 158. 

Bath gels set

This little gift was given to me by Amanda afellow demonstrator.  She made a box out of card-stock that these bath gels fit into.  She coordinated the colors of the box with the gels themselves.  I love the little details; the cello bag packaging that adds the crunch of excitement; the mini card attached with cording and then a knot in larger ribbon; the circle punched flower to decorate the top of the bottles; the slot punch on the box making it look like a mini drink carrier from any fast food restaurant and the Flower Designer Brad for the flower center which is framed by the best punch ever the scallop circle punch. 

Felt Flower Organizer

This week I thought I would focus on little thoughtful gifts that I have been given and I think would make a great gift for someone else.  Even someone who has been a mother figure in your life. 

The first idea was given to me at Leadership and it is a covered organizer.  I don't know anyone who does not need a little more organization in their lives and this little book can be carried in your purse.  I love the Sweet Always Designer papers and that they used the coordinating papers for the book and pen.  

To finish off this little gift was a ribbon bow and felt flower accents.  These are attached to the bow using the rhinestone brads. 

Tweet Gift Bag

 A friend had a birthday and I needed a gift bag and card to match her gift set I had made for her and so I created this gift bag with card topper. 

I thought it turned out cute.  I used the chipboard on board birds and covered them with Good Morning papers.  I did find I needed to make sure I glued them all the way down on the gift bag so they did not pop off. 

The stem sayings stamp set works great for words coming out of the birds beaks.

I used the scallop edge punch for the edge of the card and cut an opening for the gift bag handles so the card could slip on as a bag topper. 

The gift bag idea came from the box we made at Stampin' Up! leadership in January. 

The colors I used were Pacific Point, Summer Sun, Certainly Celery and the Good morning designer papers.  Enjoy

Big Shot Envelope Basket

 I designed this little basket for a workshop I had this past Saturday here in Woodstock.  I had seen a box made from 4 of the envelope dies.  I cut 4 envelopes from the Shimmery White card-stock and cut off the side flaps on two of them.  I die cut 4 top flaps and trimmed them 1/8" on the flat side and glued them to each envelope flap.  I then glued the 4 envelopes together with sticky strip.  Fold in the bottom and glue a 3 1/8" square to stabilize the bottom.  Then I added a handle. 

Stamp before putting in the bottom so you have a flat surface.

I just loved how it turned out using the Sale-a-bration papers and stamp set.  Don't miss out on your chance to earn this stamp set, paper or ribbon for free with any $50.00 order.  Can be placed on line or email or call me.  You can choose SAB product for each $50.00 you spend minus tax and shipping. 

Baby Shower gift and gift bag

 I had fun this past weekend creating this gift bag and mini scrap-booking album for Amber's baby shower.  I decided to use the theme from the invites I shared yesterday but changed the colors just a little for a brighter look, and to match the Designer Series I used.  The colors are Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Old Olive and Rose Red.  I used markers to color the boat then stamped them and added the doodle line in Old Olive. 

The gift bag has a topper that I use as a giant card that fits over the handles of the gift bag so there is no peeking.  I tied a bow around the handles with the new white organdy ribbon.  It is very soft and creates a nice look for baby's and weddings. 

The gift bag was rolled with the jumbo roller, Whimsy and So Saffron stars were added. 

For the gift I made a X album monthly review for the baby's pictures.  The idea is to take a picture a month and put it in this mini album and you have a review book of the growth of your baby the st year. 

I used the same colors as in the gift bag.   

I cut 1 sheet of X card-stock into X sheets and alternated them through out the book.  The layout is the same for each page just rotated and moved to different positions on the page. 

The book is designed for a X photo. I cut several 1 3/4" squares  and 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 pieces from designer papers.  The front cover is just scraps of designer papers glued across the bottom and the bundle of love and boat accents attached with dimensional.  

For each monthly page I stamped a boat and cut it out.  I stamped the month and punched it with the Designer Label punch, sponge around the edges for a soft look.  I then tied the punched image onto the page. Each page is different colors, designer papers and layout but basically the same. This makes this book easy to do and easy to look at.  

I put all the pages in a ring album.  It seemed to be hit at the shower.  I won twice because I loved making it and everyone loved looking at it and I hope Amber enjoys it for years to come.

Next Hands On Class Projects

  Leadership in Florida this year was a great event to be at, not only did I learn some great business tips, I got to visit with my friends, felt the stability of Stampin' Up! but we came home with this great class project already designed and prepared for me to teach to you.

This projects is a gift box, 3 cards, a tag box and tags that all coordinate.  This project is made using some of the new products Stampin' Up! has in their new catalog.  The chipboard birds are just so cute and they have matching papers and stamp sets as well. 

I hope each of you will sign up for my Hands On Class in February.  The class is held the 2nd Friday of each month.  Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 10am and repeated at 7:30pm.  The cost is $15.00 to attend and you get a $10.00 discount if you purchase $50.00 or more that night.  And I know you will want to purchase because February is Sale-a-bration and with a $50.00 order you can choose a free stamp set.  To sign click this link.

From "owl" house to yours!

 I love the new Big Shot die cutting machine and especially the top note die, there are so many fun things to do with it.  This owl made a great treat holder at Halloween but is as cute as a Christmas owl.  I created this project for my KSU group of ladies because KSU mascot is an owl. 

This box could be the perfect way to deliver cookies or treats to your neighbors.  The Santa hat is created with the large tag punch, half of a scallop punch and one of the flowers from Boho flower punch. 

The owl is the scallops die, top note die folded in half, a scallop punch, one petal from the 5 petal flower punch (beak), the eyes are 1" circles full and the close to cocoa is cut in half, the black centers are a 3/4" circle punch the feet are another flower from the Boho flower punch.  The branch is free hand and the leaf stamp is in the Flower Fancy stamp set.  I rolled the box with the holly roller.  The saying is printed on cardstock from my computer and then punched with tag punch and stamped with an owl from the Owl together stamp set.

To create the box score a 12x12 piece of CS 3" from opposite sides and 41/2 on the two remaining opposites sides.  Glue together and I used large brad accents to hold the 1x12 handle in place.

Gift Making Extravaganza

This week has been filled with many hours of stamping time designing projects for an upcoming class.  I decided to offer a class that will allow you to come and create great gifts for your friends and family.   

The class will be $10.00 plus a supply fee for each project ranging from $4.00 to $38.00. You can make as many of the different projects as you want and as many of one projects as you need.  Over this next few days I will highlight one of these projects.  

Check back soon! 

Smore fun for all

 At my downline meeting Monika not only made this cute smore kit as her exchange card she taught us how to upload this image to her web site so we can all add our own personal images to our sites. 

I loved this smore kit.  The topper is made using the new Big Shot die cut machine and the top note die.  She cut one from Chocolate chip card stock and one from Kraft brown and then trimmed the Kraft one just inside of the stitching line.  Fold these in half and staple it to a medium cello bag with graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bar for a great little gift idea. 

The stamp set is Under the Stars which is one of the stamp sets on sale in September.

To see what other sets are on special: check this link out

Beach Bag

I loved this pattern and how cute these little bags turn out.  Julia taught this at our covention meeting and it was a hit.  You can make them from any paper pattern and any size.  These were created from the Bella Rosa papers that are new to the Fall/winter collection.  

Instructions:Supplies Needed:
Designer Series Paper 11 x 5 1/2, Coordinating Card Stock 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 & 1 x 11 for scallop edge and left over for punches, Bone Folder,
Sticky Strip, Round Tab Punch, Scallop edge Punch or slit punch, ¼" circle punch, Ribbon, Paper Snips, Boho Flower Punch or other bling
Paper Cutter & scoring blade

Step #1
Cut card stock at 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" and score 1" on all  four sides. Crease all of your score lines. Then cut up to the 1" line on two opposite sides of four sides.  Add adhesive to the flaps you just created and glue flaps to the outside of the large flap to create a box with the raw edges on the outside of the box.
          
 Step #2
Cut your Designer Series paper 5-1/2" X 11".
On the wrong side of your Designer paper, place sticky strip on one long side and one short side.  
Step #3
Remove the Sticky Strip from the long side only. You are now going to start adhering your box to your designer paper. Place the bottom of the box along the sticky edge (starting in the middle of a box edge so the seam will be in the back of the box). You will go all along the designer paper wrapping and adhering the paper to the bottom of the box.
 
Step #4
Using your scallop edge punch, punch along the 1" X 11" piece of card stock. Glue to bottom edge of your box by pressing firmly into place by sticking your hand inside the box.
 
Once you are almost to the end, pull of your side protective strip before adhering the bottom completely. Finish adhering your bottom then adhere your side. Stick your hand on the inside of your box/bag and smooth all seams down tightly. 

Step #5
Using your ¼" circle punch you will punch holes in both ends of your Round Tab punch. Punch approximately 1/8" from the fold. Place sticky strip on both ends of the round tab punch-outs. Remove the protective strip and place one tab on the front portion and one on the back portion. Run your ribbon through the holes on the tabs and tie.
 
Step #6
Time to decorate. You can do this portion any way you want. Options: Punch out your flowers using the Boho Flower punch. Add a little bling to your flowers and adhere with glue dots to the front.