The Stamper

Grad Hat from petal cone Big Shot Die

My friend, Wendy shared this cute graduation hat box that a friend had shared with her, with me.  Sharing is so much fun!

With all the graduations in my life this year I just loved this little box.  It was simple to make and the perfect box to hold a little something for a graduate in your life. 

To create the box, cut black or any color cardstock into 2 pieces 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, lay these cardstock pieces onto the petal cone die so that the rounded edges of the die are covered by cardstock, the pieces will not fit the whole die but that does not matter it is just the top part of the die you want. (cutting one layer at a time is best because of the score lines on this die)  After cutting box pieces, you want to score below the petal cone score lines one inch.  Now, glue the box flaps to each other and fold on score lines.  Tuck the petal or round piece together and then glue the opposite ends together.  You will now cut a 3 x 6 piece of black cardstock and fold it in half and glue over the back part of the box.  And white cardstock that was cut using the petal cone die and loosen the fibers with a bone folder, attach this piece to the top of the card with a antique brad.  Add 2 3/4" pieces of white cardstock to the inside of the card to cover the back of the brad and so you can write a simple message of congrats. 

To order Big Shot and Petal cone die go to my Stampin' web site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Strawberries and Strawberry Basket

These cute little strawberries boxes will capture your heart and you will like making them even though they take a little time.  Using cardstock, a big shot and texture impression die and the flower fold die you can create a little box that holds a chocolate kiss or other small treat.

  But don't stop there create a little basket to hold them using Stampin' Up!'s wood sheets found on page 216 of the main catalog under Base Materials for your Big Shot.  
This little basket was shown to me by Laree Stewart, one of my creative downline at a retreat a few years back.  After making a few of these strawberries I glanced up at my creative shelf and spotted her box and the two were a perfect match. 
To make the strawberries you can check out this tutorial by selecting this link. 

To make the box, you use: Eight 1/2" x 6" strips of wood sheets. These are weaved together in the middle of the strips, 4 one direction 4 the other, then squeeze them together and bend the remaining ends upward, now weave Two 1/2 x 9 1/2" strips around the strips that are poking upward, the ends of each strip place a glue dot so when you add the rim a 9 1/2" x 3/4" piece of the wood sheets you can attach the ends of the woven basket to it.  The rim was colored with Chocolate chip ink using a sponge.  Add little ribbon handles with brads and a mini tag for decoration.  I also crimped small strips of crumb cake paper for basket filler. 

To order the Big Shot and dies needed for this project you can go to my Stampin' Web site: http://wendythestamper.stampin.net

Gifts for Friends

One of the hard things about living in Saudi Arabia is the shopping.  Because women don't drive you can't just jump in the car and drive yourself to the store, you have to take a bus or hire a driver to take you.  The buses runs 2 times in the morning and a few times at night.  Most stores are closed in the middle of the afternoon.  Drivers have to be called in advance, so no I forgot I have a birthday party tonight runs to the store.  And then what store?  We have very nice malls here but they are expensive and I am not much of a mall shopper, the souks are fun but don't carry great youth gifts.  So when my daughter have a birthday party coming up we have found ourselves creating fabulous gifts for them from whatever stuff I have on hand. 

That is what happened this week, we made birthday gifts.  Both girls had parties and the three of us had such fun creating something special for their friends.  Chay made Kim a file folder notebook holder and a paper purse for the dark chocolate Kim loves.  The notebook was created from a file folder, by scoring pocket and cutting part of it off you have a great place to put a notebook, you could even tuck a few envelopes in the other pocket.  We decorated the notebook and pen to match, added butterfly accents using Stampin' Up!'s stamp set Butterfly Prints.  We used discontinued Stampin' Up! papers because it is what we had but any Designer Series papers would have worked great.  Red is Kim's favorite color so this was perfect for us. 

We wanted to create a matching paper purse and we made a card that matched as well.  The purse is one piece of Designer Series papers, score both sides at 2 1/2 inches, then turn 1/4 of a turn and score these 4 inches from both ends.  The tricky part is on both ends, both outsides; you fold the 4" score line up to the 2 1/2" score line creating a 2 1/2" diagonal fold, this allows you to put stuff into the middle section and creates the purse affect. 

to finish the purse, fold the 2 1/2 ends in and add 2" x 7" piece of cardstock folded in half to the end of the purse.  We also added a Round Tab punched from Stampin' Up!'s Round Tab punch.  Finished it off with a rhinestone and white gel pen stitching.  We also added her name that was cut using the Big Shot and Stampin' Up! Timeless Type Junior and butterflies from the Butterfly Prints Stamp set. 

These gifts were the hit of the party which made Chay feel really good about what she created.

Remember you can order anytime from my Stampin' Web site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Bunny Basket Box with Dresden Big Shot die

I was sitting at my desk trying to be creative when I came up with this Bunny Basket Box for my next Hands On class.  I love bunnies and this one turned out with so much charm. 

To make this fun Easter basket box you need cardstock and a few other supplies.  It is 10 x 12" cardstock scored 5" and 7"  long way and  2" from each side on short way.  Glue side 2" on top of each other to form basket box.  The extra 2x 12 piece of cardstock cut from the 12x12 piece is the handle.  I used the sale-a-bration brads to hold the handle to the box. 

 I used DSP 5 3/4 x 4 3/4" piece to decorate the front and back of box.  The bunny is made using different Big Shot dies and Stampin' Up! punches.  The ears use the Bigz L Die Dresden Designs available in Stampin' Up! mini catalog.  The oval face is the oval frame die, main catalog. 

The cheeks are 1" punches (attached with dimensionals) eyes are 1/2" punches (glued flat), nose is heart punch (glued to cheeks), wiskers and mouth are drawn on with permanent black marker.  The flower is created by punching strip of DSP with scallop lace punch and glueing it in a circle.  Add a punched flower and button for center. I tied a ribbon bow from the sale-a-bration Everyday Enchantment ribbon pack and added flower and greeting. 

I sponged the inside of the ears, around face and on cheeks.  I added catch lights to the bunnies eyes with a white gel pen.  To add life to the ears use a bone folder to curl them a little. 

You can order the DSP and Everyday Enchantment packs for free during sale-a-bration.  This great sale last until March 31st so go to my web site and check it out before it is too late.  http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Fresh Vintage and Loved Ones Card Box

This past week at a Hands On class I taught, we made this card packet.  It is a wonderful gift idea I hope you might try.  Here is how to make the box.  It was designed to hold 3 cards and envelopes plus a little compartment that holds the sayings from Stampin' Up!'s Loved Ones stamp set.  This set is a word set that for each family relationship it has a word plus a little accent to make it really cute. 

Loved Ones stamp set always makes the stamper smile.  I liked watching my customers stamp the different images because they smile that the DAD is open letters that are plaid, MOM has a flower image, etc.  These tags were 1" x 3", we stamped the border stamp from Stampin' Up!'s Fresh Vintage stamp set with Pool Party ink, then stamped the Loved Ones stamps over the top of that with Lucky Limeade.  to get the flag look on the end use the postage square punch and punch just the corner of the stamp from edge to edge and you get this look. 

The cards were 3 different base colors for the cards; Pool party, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, each card was cut 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, folded in half.  I added some Designer Series Paper 4 x 3" from the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper pack you can earn for free during Sale-a-bration.  (GREAT paper), I then stamped on white cardstock the flower image from Fresh Vintage and backed each white piece of cardstock with one of the above colors and glued it to one of the cards making sure I use a different color from the base card.  I added a circle punched image and one of the Everyday Enchantment Brad and ribbon that was curled with scissors like you would curling ribbon. 

The box is created with a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock that is scored all the way around at 1" and 2".  Cut on the score line to the score lines on the inside 2" line to the 2" line on both short ends.  Then cut on both the 1" and 2" score lines to the 2" score line on the long edges, this will remove the top rectangle and give you flaps to fold into the box shape.  Put glue around edge and fold the edges over the flap to create a sturdy box.   The liner inside is how you make the compartments for the cards and tags.  Score a 8 1/4 x 4 3/8 piece of cardstock at 1 1/4, 2, 2 3/4.  Fold the 2" fold as a mountain and glue into your box. 

I added clear window sheet as the box cover, this one has black dots but you can use just clear.  Piece of window sheet is 7 x 11 1/2" score at 3 1/4, 4 1/4 plus one line, 8 7/8, 9 7/8 plus one line.  Make sure you use a bone folder to create good crease lines and glue around box. 

To take advantage of Sale-a-bration order today at my Stampin' Site: http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net

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.

Stampin' Up! Big Shot Milk Carton Die

This little milk carton is so cute and several can be cut at one time using the Big Shot and the milk carton die.  This little project was done at the leadership conference I attended in January and thought I would share it with  you.  I love how the die cuts and scores the box so all you have to do it decorate it.  This milk carton is not very big so decorating it can be a snap. 

The clip holds the top closed and the ribbon adds just a little accent. The words and flower accent come in Stampin' Up! stamp set "With All My Heart".  To get just the words from the stamp make sure your stamp is clean and then use a marker to color in just the part of the stamp you want.  This technique is called omitting.  I love that a brad is the perfect center for this little flower. 

The Big Shot Milk Carton Die can be found in the Occasions mini catalog on page 23.  You might have missed it if you were just glancing though this catalog because it does not stand out on the page but look closely and remember you can order from me anytime my emailing me at [email protected] or order from my stampin' up! web site at wendythestamper.stampinup.net

Customer Appreciation Class

I am getting excited for my Customer Appreciation Event that will be Friday, December 11, at 10am and repeated at 7:30pm.  This is the time of the year for me to give you, my customers, a gift and that gift is a free Hands On class.  We will be making 4 projects: this post-it note holder, a standing calendar card, a Valentines card and an ornament made from the Sweet Treat cups. 

I have been cutting paper and cleaning and decorating my home for this special event.  Ted's making treats as well.  I look forward to celebrating the holidays with you when you attend this event.

Happy Holidays! 

Also check out Stampin' Up!'s special that starts tomorrow on my Stampin' Up! The Stamper web site:  http://wendythestamper.stampinup.net tomorrow for more details.

Stampin' Up! Flower Fancy card box

This past weekend I had a Heritage Album class during the day and then cleaned up and set up for my STARZ down line meeting.  I was pretty tired but getting together with my girls always lifts my spirits.  We shared some great ideas, talked about business tips and made some fun projects.  This card box holder was one of the projects.  I was taught how to make this at Sandy's California meeting when I was out there and had to come home and create my version with the Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede color combination.  I really like these colors together and Stampin' Up!'s  designer series paper Throughly Modern has the perfect paper to accent these color with. 

The box holds a stack of cards and envelopes even though we only made one of each as a sample. To color the Flower Fancy image I stamped the outline in Soft Suede and then used the marker technique to color the 2nd step or bold image.  I used Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, and Garden Green.  Remember to huff on the stamp right before you stamp so you get a clean image.  I added a dotted ribbon bow with a glue dot. 

I created a card for my gift class using the same corner technique.  I rounded 3 of the 4 corners of the background piece. leaving one corner square.  On the stamped image piece I rounded 3 corners and then used the ticket punch for the 4th.  This just add a little detail to the card. 

Stampin' Up! Dasher stamp set

This weekend at my Gift Making Extravaganza weekend Monika shared with me this great gift idea.  She made a set of Christmas coasters using Stampin' Up! Dasher stamp set.   These are stamped with Craft inks and then sprinkled with clear embossing powder and either baked in the oven or heated with a heat tool.  She boxed them in a handmade box with the large 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon (I love how soft this ribbon is) and added a Big Shot tag that was stamped the same as the coaster set. Add a few felt feet to the back on the tile and you have a coaster that is perfect for holding drinks during this holiday season. 

Stampin' Up! Berry Christmas Trio

What fun I had to day making up these gift ideas.  I was inspired by the card I made a few weeks ago using Soft Suede card-stock, Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper and the Stampin' Up! stamp set Berry Christmas found on page 20 of the Holiday Mini catalog. 

The pencil box was created with a 11x 2 1/2" piece of card-stock.  You score the long sides at 1/2" and the short side at 1/2", 1", 8 1/2", 9".  Cut away the 1/2" square on the corners on the bottom of the holder and fold into a box. 

The Post-it note  holder is the same concept but different folds and dimensions.  I will try and make up a pattern and put it in a blog. 

I can't believe Christmas is only a few weeks away.  My girls keep reminding me.

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 [email protected]to 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. 

Wood sheets Wows!

How many of you noticed the new Wood Sheets item# 16309 Texture Cuts found on page 158 of the new idea book and catalog?  I know when I went through the catalog I was so excited to purchase these and see how they work.  I was even more impressed when I received the sheets and started playing with them.  They are thin sheets of wood that have a paper backing to support the wood sheet and prevent them from breaking or chipping.  Here are a few ideas you can do with the new wood sheets. 

Big Shot die boxes:  you can die cut these sheets and make your own wood boxes and cards.

Stamp directly on the wood sheets with either classic inks or craft inks. 

You can watercolor stamped images on the wood sheets with watercolor pencils or classic inks.  Just be careful to use minimal amounts of water. 

You can punch out shapes with either our regular punches or any dies from the Big Shot line and attach them to a card.  Or even punch easily through the sheet to add accents like eyelets or brads.

But my favorite thing I tried and loved was using the Big Shot and the impression folders I created an impressed image into the wood and then added a little chalk for color.  

I would love to see what you create with these new wood sheets. 

To order this item you can go to my web site or email me with an order. 

Embossing Folder Elegant Bouquet

Each year I try to make my down line a little gift for attending convention and this year I decided to do this little purse that I made a few months ago for a meeting.  This time I used a roller to create texture on the purse flap and the top note bottom piece was embossed with the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Elegant Bouquet.  I sponged over the texture to make it stand out.  The flower is from Stampin' Up! Enjoy Every Moment stamp set and the center of the flower is a silver jumbo brad that has a 1/2 inch circle punched designer paper glued to the top of it.  I added the crushed curry ribbon for handles. 

I hope they like these little gifts, I filled them with different accessories so each one is a surprise.

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. 

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.