The Stamper

Make your own Party Hats!

   Make my own party hats was just what I wanted to do for a Relief Society Birthday party social I was in charge of.  I looked around on the web and just could not find the look I was going for, so I sat down and created the size and designs and look that was in my head.  I loved how they turned out and all the ladies at the social was surprised that they were handmade. 

It is hard to get great supplies for birthday parties and one lady said, "Can I hire you to make my son's next birthday hats!" I was so glad that they loved them as much as I loved making them.  I looked around and found a small pattern on Stampin' Up! demonstrator pattern site and so I had a general idea on the shape.  These are made using a 12x12 piece of cardstock and basically cutting one corner off and I punched a circle from the top so I could add the fluff poking out of the top of the hats.  

I then added sticky strip to the rim of the hat and then pleated ribbon to the edge.  For some of the other hats I ran pieces of cardstock through the paper crimper several times until it was flexible and then I pleated it like I did the ribbon.  I would suggest that you use your sewing machine and stitch the ribbon or paper ribbon to the bottom of the hat because it tends to pull away over time.  Unless you are only going to use them for a couple of hours then that step is not necessary. 

  Most of the hats I used for table decorations so I did not add the ribbon stings to tie the hat onto your head with but one was to be worn.  I wanted the hat to be stable so I put jumbo eyelets on each side to tie the ribbon to.  

To finish the main hat I die cut a flower using the Big Shot machine and the Flower die and the Scallop Circle #2 die.  I dampened the paper with water then crunched it into a ball, carefully opening it.  I added a large button center.  I was making this for a friend, Donna, to wear and she is a party girl. So full of life and laughter and so I wanted her hat to sparkle like her personality so I add jewels to the hat which is just the right finishing touch.

While the hat is still flat add the curled ribbon or straight pieces of cardstock and designer paper that poke out the top.  I used liquid glue to stick these in and to glue the hat closed.  It just seemed to work better, but remember when using this glue you want to use as little as possible so it dries quicker and does not squish out the seam and get all over your fingers. 

To curl the ribbon I used a bone folder and pulled strips of paper and cardstock like you would ribbon on a present.  Then I twirled them around my finger to create a tighter look. 

Each hat is different and I loved making them all.  If you want to create hats like mine you can order the supplies at my Stampin' Web site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net 

I used: Big Shot item# 113439 (if you have ever thought of purchasing a Big Shot, the month of March is a great time because you will qualify for Sale-a-bration free merchandise)  Dies #114934 Flower & 113469 Scallop circle #2, Designer Series paper #117164 Celebrations (love this paper), Sticky Strip #104294 and Liquid Glue #110755, Ribbon #115618 Old Oliver 1 1/4" striped Grosgrain ribbon and #119256 Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta ribbon. 

 

Stampin' Up! Designer Brads

The Occasion mini catalog by Stampin' Up! has lots of new products for us to create with and the Fabric Designer Brads are one of them. 

They are playful fabric covered brads that can add texture and details to any project you might have laying out on your desk. 

I like how my friend Amanda used these with the large button and the new Big Shot Fun Flowers die.  I think this would be a fun accent for a card or scrapbook page. 

To order the fabric brads or Bigz Fun Flower die you can go to the order now section of my stampin' web site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net or email me at [email protected] and I can order it for you.  Remember Sale-a-bration has just a couple more weeks to go.  That with each $50.00 order you get to choose a Sale-a-bration project for free. 

 

Big Shot Top Note Calendar

I love calendars and one of my downline Laree makes my husband a cute calendar each year for his desk, which I always love and have a hard time not taking from him.  This year was no different.  She made this standing calendar using the Big Shot and Stampin' Up!'s die Top Note.  Cut a Top Note die from a Base Color and a Designer Series print and trim at the perforated marks on the Designer Paper and glue together.  Tie a ribbon around Top Note and tie it at the top with Linen Thread through a button. 

To create the standing base, cut 4 1/4" x 11" piece of cardstock in coordinating color, score 1", 2", 5 1/2", 9", and 10 inches.  Fold  in half and at the 2 and 9 inch marks.  Layer the 1" and 10 inches together and staple the base together.  The fold in the middle allows you to fold this calendar flat for mailing purposes.  Attach Top Note piece to base by adding calendar to the front and adhering it with colored brads that go through to the base. 

Check your calendars and join me, March 19th, for my next Hands On class where we will make cute projects like this calendar.

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

Elegant Pink Valentine

I thought I would finish the week off with another creative use of the Petal cone die.  To create this Elegant pink Valentine card you cut 2 cone pieces using the die and then run one of them through the Big Shot again using the Vintage Wallpaper impressions embossing folder.  Glue the two together (see hint and photo below).  Add the Embosslits Scallop Heart of Hearts accents cut from white and Regal Rose.  The banner piece is cut from the Petal Cone die and was cut from Whisper White cardstock and glued to only one side so the card can open. 

Amanda, one of my stamping buddies, made this card for me at Leadership and I think it is so elegant. 

Hint: This image shows you the inside of the card so you get the idea on how to glue it  together.  The flap on the main piece is glued to half of the other die that you embossed.  The other half with the tab is glued to the opposite side of the main piece. 

This card is a perfect Valentine but could also be used as a wedding or anniversary card. 

To order the cone die or any Big Shot and it's accessories go to my stampin' web site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Cone Die Valentine

The new cone die in Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini catalog is quickly becoming one of my favorite dies.  I love making the cone and Chaylee made one to give to her teacher as a gift that was warmly received but even more than the cone it was designed to create there are many more creative ideas I have seen using this die.

This cone die Valentine was created by Janet Baker and I got this one at Stampin' Up!'s leadership.  Stampin' Up!'s cone die makes a perfect pocket to tuck in a sweet for your sweet.  The cone was cut from Whisper White cardstock and the accent piece from both Real Red and Love Impressions Specialty Designer Series paper.  The Whisper White cardstock was wheeled using the I (love) love roller and real red ink.  Add a greeting using Stampin' Up!'s XOXO stamp set and a couple punched hearts and you have a great valentine for your child to take to school or for you to give anyone you care about. 

To order the supplies show here check out my Stampin' Web site: http://www.wendythestamper.stampinup.net and don't forget it is Sale-a-bration time and for every $50.00 you order you get to choose free product from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  Make something today to tell those you love how much you care.

Feeling Special!

Each year at Stampin' Up!'s leadership conference Stampin' Up! tries to make each of us feel special and appreciated for all our work to make Stampin' Up! a success. This year was no different, we got a darling bag, stamp sets, paper packs and some wonderful stamping projects to make.  I will share more of these soon. 

I also felt special this year at Stampin' Up!'s advisory board reunion breakfast they have for those of us who serve on their advisory board currently and in the past.  It is always very early in the morning after having no sleep the night before but it is worth attending.  This year we were greeted with beautiful flowers on the tables and a sweet package handstamped for each of us.  (There was a stamp set inside)  I loved the package.  Note how they created stripes from ribbon and paper with a few folds and a sewing machine and the little details just finish it off. 

You can find a variation of this gift package on page 192 of the main Stampin' Up! catalog where they use this concept as a card. Take a moment and try adding ribbon to a card you create today. If you need ribbon check out my Stampin' Web site for some great high quality ribbon for the best price around.

 

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

Paper Tree Ornaments

I had a moral group progressive dinner the other night and we read the story of the three trees.  I had made these paper tree ornaments for each person to take home with them. 

This pattern came about because of my daughter Brynli.  I was making the paper heart ornaments from strips of double sided designer paper and she came to my desk and said, why did you make the trees red?  She was looking at them upside down and sure enough when I looked at them her way this patterned looked like trees, so I added the truck by folding a small strip and gluing it betweenn the bottom folds.  I punched a hole for the ribbon on the top of the tree where the paper strips meet towards the back of the strip a little and added a slit and a punched star.  I used liquid glue to hold the star and trunk in place. 

Stampin' Up!'s designer paper called Woodland Walk is perfect for these becuase it has several papers with greenery and wood grains in it.  The paper pack is item #117389 and you get 12 sheets, 2 each of 6 double sided desgins for $9.95.  You can order anytime at my Stampin' web site.  Wendythestamper.stampinup.net. 

 

Thankful for you!

Each year as Thanksgiving comes around I like to think about the many things I am thankful for.  And among the many things I am thankful for is you; my customers, friends and fellow stamping buddies. 

Since moving to Arabia I have felt even more a gratefulness for the times we have spent together; stamping, scrapbooking and sharing each other joys and pains. 

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a joyful Holiday with friends and family.  Love, Wendy

This shadow box was created using Stampin' Up!'s Home Decor elements Season of Thanks.  Check out this weeks special to get the medium size on sale.

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. 

Stamped Wood Ornaments

I love these wood ornaments especially because they remind me of driving in Georgia and suddenly yelling for Ted to stop the car because I thought I saw the perfect dead tree branch.  Ted would stop, break off a limb or two, take them home, cut them into disks and then drill a hole for me so I could stamp and create something unique for our tree.

I brought some of these Georgia disks with me and stamped them with Stampin' Up!'s  Jolliest Time of the year stamp set.  You can color them with color pencils, watercolor crayon or just plain crayons.  Get your kids to help.  I added cording and a bow to finish them.

I also created some using Stampin' Up!'s mini catalog stamp set Bells and Boughs.  These were colored with metalic pencils and I added crystal effects to help make the berries pop.  The ribbon is the seam binding you can find in the Holiday mini catalog.  I love how light weight and easy it is to create beautiful bows with. 

Holiday Happenings

 I love Christmas and all the red, green and gold and this year I am making ornaments for a Saudi Christmas because we did not bring any Christmas decorations with us.  I also sold these in the craft fair this past week and thought I would share them here. 

I found some leather /vinyl  here in Arabia and die cut it with the Big Shot scallop square.  This worked great and I was able to stamp on the leather with Black Stazon.  The Santa is done with punches.  The small tag punch is the hat and beard, face is 1 3/8 circle, nose and top of hat are  1/2" circle, word window is the hats trim, 1/4" circle for eyes, slot punches for eyebrows and the 5 petal flower punch trimed for the mustache.  I added white gel pen to the eyes to make them pop and watercolor his cheeks a little.   I also outlined him with a black writer.  These always make me smile.

 

Baby Shower gift Stampin' Style

 Last night I had a baby shower to attend and decided to, okay be honest, needed to do it Stampin' Style because you can not just run to the store here and pick up a gift or even nice gift wrapping materials so I decided to make the mom to be my favorite gift, a hooded towel made from a towel and wash   cloth.  I recieved one of these with Shanae, my first child and we used it until it wore out when she was around age 10 or so. 

I wanted to add a little something else to the gift so I made a gift box of baby thank you cards because it is hard to find good cards here and I know after the baby shower she will need these. 

These were fun to make, I love working with pink and chocolate.  The stamp set was retired a few years ago but I always hang onto the baby, wedding and any speciality type stamp set  because you always find uses for them.  The box is just folded cardstock and I used clear acetate as a wrap around cover and then tied it all up with a large pink bow.  The cards are pink pirouette and chocolate chip cardstock. 

After finishing my gift I then needed to create a gift package to put them all in.  I created the box by using 12 x 12 cardstock and scored it all around at 1 1/4" and then scalloped the edges then cut along score line to score line on two sides and fold into box.  I then cut 12 x 12 cardstock into 6" sheets and cut it the length of the box side plus one inch, score along 1" and glue four of these pieced together and glue it to the box bottom.  I created the box top same as bottom but did not glue in on.   

A gift is not complete without a card so I created one to match.  I created the card using Stampin' Up!'s stamp set Fast and Fun Notes.  I stamped on designer paper and on the whisper white cardstock, cut out the desginer paper and glued it onto the white image.  This is a fun way to add texture to stamped images.

I hope the mom to be liked these as much as I enjoyed making them.

Fabric Contest winner

I had some fun news I had to share with you all, the other day I was scanning over Shelli Gardner's (owner and founder of Stampin' Up!) blog So Shelli and she had a challenge contest for Stampin' Up!'s new fabric and I decided to enter these cute ornaments I made from the fabrics and I won. 

It was so much fun to know others love these as much as I do. 

If you want to create these ornaments you can purchase a fabric package and any one of the accents from my Stampin' web site and then email me and I will send you the pattern via email for free. 

Items # of things I used:

#121716 Deck the Halls Designer Fabric $9.95     

#121715 Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric $9.95   

#121002 Deck the Halls Big Designer Buttons $8.95

#121718 Candy Cane Big Desginer Buttons $8.95

#119251 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon Real Red $5.95

#119960 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon Very Vanilla $5.95

#118480 Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim $6.95  #119246 Basic Rhinestones Jewels $4.95

#119247 Basic Pearls Jewels $4.95

#119747 Brights Designer Buttons $8.95

#119737 Regals Brads $6.95

These ornaments are sewed together and take a little time but I thought they turned out so cute.   

Bigz Candy Wrapper Die Stampin' Style

This week I was playing with the new Bigz Candy Wrapper Die that is new in Stampin' Up!'s Holiday catalog and created this cute box in just a few minutes. 

I used the Holiday paper Jolly Holiday Designer Paper.  I cut a 6" square and die cut it with Sizzix Big Shot and Candy Wrapper die.  Then I punched a tag with Stampin' Up!'s new Extra-large Punch called Decorative Label, folded it at about 1/3 from the bottom, on the bottom piece I stamped the Merry Christmas  from Stampin' Up!'s Merry Crittermas stamp set and on the 2/3 part I stamped the squirrel and colored him in.  The tag is glued to the box with the fold on the tag lining up with the edge of the box.  I think I might create these for a Holiday fair I am doing here for tree ornaments.   

They are quick and easy and would look great hanging from a tree.  You could even put little surprises inside and give them to visitors when they come to your house.  It is never to early to start thinking about the Holidays. 

Stampin' Up! has Fabric!

  I am so excited that Stampin' Up! is designing fabric using our great designs and colors.  One day when my air conditioner was out (110-120* here in Saudi) I went to the quilt house and browsed through patterns and found this cute ornament pattern that I modified to use what products I had on hand.  I loved how they turned out. I added trim, buttons, rhinestones, pearls or brads for a finishing touch. 

I could not decide which fabrics: the Candy Cane selection or the Deck the Halls selection I liked best.  You decide for yourself.    

The fabric is 100% cotton and is sold in fat quarters, approx. 28"x18" and you get 3 fabric designs for $9.95.  And if you know anything about Shelli Gardner, owner and founder of Stampin' Up! you can guess that she has the Deck the Halls selection in her Shelli's Signature collection.  It looks "So Shelli"  I sent these picture to her for her So Shelli blog challenge this month.  We will have to see if she likes them as much as I do.  

Remember you can order anytime at my stampin' web site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Stampin' Up!'s Design a House

The Holiday mini catalog features a new product from Stampin' Up! called Design a House Decor Accents.  The little house finished size is approximately 6-1/4" x 6" x 5".  Our brand-new Design-a-House chipboard house is so versatile!
These chipboard houses can be decorated to suit any season, they can become a house for your Christmas village, or a gingerbread house, maybe a haunted mansion, or Build-A-Bear Workshop playhouse. You decide by what papers and embellishment you use on them. 

This house was designed my Cindy Fodor, she shared it on her face-book and I just had to share it with you because it was so beautiful.  She used the new Deck the Halls Designer Series paper from the new mini catalog and the buttons and waffle paper as well.   The house are not very expensive just $5.95 each and you can use whatever establishments you choose for them.

This would be a fun project for you and your family to make or use it as a great girl scout project.  I am sure whoever make one will love the fun they have creating a home of their own.

Wedding Dress Art

Wow! Is what I thought when I saw this wall hanging while shopping in Khobar this week.  I have been into this little gift shop several times and they always have some unique and wonderful things to shop for.  The worker knows me by face and could tell me exactly how many times I have been into his shop.  I was impressed with that and I love that he always shows us multiple items knowing that soon one will catch our eye more than another and I won't be able to leave the store without it. 

The tapestries are that way.  They are up some dangerous stairs, very tall and not evenly spaced, they are all stacked on top of each other and look okay but nothing you would think of purchasing and then he starts to open them up and lay them all over the room so you can see their true beauty. 

I was not going to purchase anything even though I have looked at smaller versions of these tapestries in the past but this one was so me I had to take it home.  The patch work designs are all unique, these are coming out of India and the fabrics are all embedded with jewels and sparkle (I thought of my friend Susan who would love all the glitz) each piece is cut from old wedding dresses and the bead work is unbelievable.  The corner pieces on this one is all hand threaded seed beads attached to silk.   

I love to just look at each piece and see the different designs that someone wore on their wedding day.  Each piece is an antique and fascinating to me.  One of my favorite is the snowflake patch above, there are two of them on this piece.  Can you just imagine someone decked out in a white dress that was covered in snowflakes?  The colors on this piece caught my eye because they are muted enough I could hang it anywhere in my home and it will match.  I am getting excited to decorate this place with all of the unique things I am falling in love with here. 

Stampin' Up! Island Oasis

Stampin Up! new mini catalog have these adorable Island Oasis Party Favor Boxes Item # 117178.  They are so cute and can be put together so they look like this little present with the band (I added the molded flower) or they can be put together so they look like a Chinese Box.  You get twelve, six dots and six stripes. 

This was one of the project I created for my downline meeting this past weekend.  The flowers are so easy to make.  I used the jumbo flower punch, this punch was in the Occasion mini catalog and they are still available, Yea!

Punch 4 flowers using extra large punch from cardstock or designer paper and one circle using 1 3/8” or 1 1/4” circle punches.    Lay flowers and circles on window sheet and spray with water.  Turn punched images over and spray the other side of the cardstock flower so it is quite moist.    Lay paper flower  in your hand and press in the center and then crumple into a ball.    Gentle open flower and smooth it out and then crumple again if needed for extra texture.  Open again, set aside.  Repeat process with all flowers and the circle.   Punch center of flowers and circle with 1/16” circle punch or paper piercing tool.    Put brad through circle then 3 flowers and open.  (you can use this brad to attach the flower to your finished project if desired.  While flowers are still damp pull circle up and crumple around the brad. Repeat with each flower layer then open them up gently to form the desired look.  Let dry.  These will harden once they are completely dry.