Category Archives: 3-D

Time to start counting the days

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It’s not that long until the first week of Advent.  When my children were small, we always bought an Advent Calendar with the little windows that opened to reveal an image.  Each night, one of them would open that little window at dinnertime and Christmas would move one day closer.

They’re big kids now, but I still look forward to counting down the days until Christmas.  This year we’ll be celebrating it in Perth with my oldest daughter and her fiance – YES, they are officially engaged!!  We are thrilled, and can’t wait to have the whole family together in Australia.  My poor Sara will be flying from Boston – that’s 31 hours of travel time.  But it’s WORTH IT to all be together – right, Sara?

Back to Advent Calendars…on the plane home from Convention, Cheryl and I carefully studied the brand new Holiday Mini catalogs we were given.  We both loved the Advent Calendar on page 36 made with the 25 and Counting stamp set, but we wanted it to have a place to put stuff – notes, or Scripture verses, or treats, or whatever.  Making each date a window would make it too big, and we tried to figure out a way to make it work.  I promised to keep at it, and to offer it as a class if I came up with a workable idea.

It took a lot of fiddling and a few unsatisfactory attempts before I created what we were looking for:

Advent Calendar with envelopes

Imagine this hanging on your wall with a GINORMOUS red ribbon!

My version of the Advent Calendar uses the new 25 and Counting Stamp set, the Peekaboo Frames Bigz die, and more paper, stamps, and embellishments than you can shake a stick at!  It’s mounted on a painted Artist Board – much cheaper than canvas, and available in many sizes.  There are pairs of Antique Brads attached to the board (that Crop-a-dile really does cut through ANYTHING) and the little envelopes from the Bitty Boxes and Envelope Bigz die are attached to a hemp twine line with our tiny clothespins.

If you would like to make one, I’m offering a class – yes, here on Maui – on Sunday, November 13.  I only have room for 10 people, and details are on my events calendar at my Online Store.  I’d love to have you join us!

Upscale shopping

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In January of this year, a law went into effect in Maui County prohibiting the use of plastic bags. You know the ones – they’ve replaced paper bags everywhere.  They’re thin, they’re strong, and they’re easily airborne on the trade winds, meaning they ended up everywhere.  We called them “opala birds”, opala being the Hawai’ian word for trash.  Not only were they an eyesore, but they made it very quickly into the ocean where they could easily be mistaken as food by marine life.

Now we’re all in the habit of carrying re-usable tote bags with us.  I have a cute little rolled-up one that fits in my purse, and there are probably a dozen sturdy bags in the trunk of my car.  Recently, Crystal brought me one that I fell in love with:

Baroque Motif tote bag

Can you say WOW!!?

No drippy groceries in THIS bag.  This is for my upscale shopping – you know, Old Navy, Office Max – clean stuff.  Crystal used our Flourish Decor Stencil (#117581, $9.95) along with some Timeless Portrait fabric  (#122337, $9.95) and Cherry Cobbler 1/2 inch scallop dots ribbon (#124138, $7.95) for this.

Don’t you love the flower?

Timeless Portrait Rosette

She used the Fun Flowers L Bigz die to cut the individual flowers, then made a hole and pulled a knot from the ribbon through.  The woman is a genius – a very generous genius.  I’m lucky she’s my friend!

A Sweet Stocking Suite

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Crystal and I have been hard at work on projects for our annual series of classes – I like to refer to them as Anne and Crystal’s Christmas Extravaganza (that’s gonna be ACCE from now on out).  We’ve reserved the Maui Masonic Lodge for the whole day on November 5 and we’re really excited!  Here are the projects we’re doing for the LAST class of the day:

Sweet Stocking Suite

The Stitched Stockings stamp set, Stocking Builder Punch and Holiday Stocking Bigz L die all coordinate together to create a fabulous Suite of projects – and you’ll make them all in this class!   (And yeah, that gift bag in the back doesn’t quite match – but it WILL.  These are our prototypes.)

The Sweet Suite class is from 2 to 4:30 pm and you’ll go home with a gift bag, card, tag, gift card holder, and cookie box (ok, well, that’s what I would put in it!).  Cost of the class is $15 if I have your payment by October 21, and $17 (on a space available basis) if you sign up after that date.  We’ll provide the specialty adhesives, but you’ll need a Tombo or a SNAIL for general assembly.  Let me know if you’d like to pre-order a fresh adhesive for class – I’ll have it ready for you in your packet.

Stocking Suite gift bag and cookie box

Isn’t that little box the cutest?  Hope to see you!

Batty for Treats

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Want an even quicker version of THESE treats?

Batty for Treats

  • Batty for You stamp set
  • Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip Classic ink pads
  • Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Chocolate Chip card stock
  • 1, 1 1/4, 1 3/8 and Scallop Circle punches
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Soft Suede 1 1/4 inch Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
  • 1 by 8 inch Cello Bags

Stamp, stamp, punch, punch, stick, stick – You’re Done!!

Frankie’s Eyes

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I saw this idea somewhere…and of course, you know where this is going.  I’ve looked and looked but I have no idea where I first saw it:

Frankie's Eyes

  • Basic Black, Concord Crush and Old Olive card stock
  • Big Shot and Top Note Bigz die
  • 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 inch circle punches
  • Basic Black (Neutrals) brads
  • Small Cello bag
  • Eyeball candy

I looked far and wide for eyeball candy.  The sample that inspired me had foil wrapped chocolates with eyeballs printed on the foil, but I couldn’t find those anywhere on Maui.

We’re basically a small town on an island.  We have a few Big Box stores and our grocery stores and a number of smaller shops, but we don’t have the Target Dollar Spot or the huge selection that larger Mainland towns have.  What’s more, because shipping takes time and money, things arrive – and sell out – in a hap-hazard fashion.  The rule here is if you see it, buy it – because next time it won’t be there.

I saw these (gross) eyeballs and jumped on them.  (Quit laughing, I didn’t really put them on the ground and stomp – you know what I mean!)  They were a perfect solution for me because they’re those revolting gummy candies that I am not tempted to eat at all.  (OK, true confession, I ate one just to be sure.  They are disgusting.)  This is not the case with M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces or (especially) Ghiradelli squares.

Look at Frankie’s mouth.  He tried one too.

 

 

Frankensniffles

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Cheryl and I had lunch a week ago to celebrate her birthday, and SHE brought ME a present:

Frankensniffles

So CUTE!!  He even has “bolts”.

This is a simple project that can be adapted to any season, decor or other whim – check HERE for instructions!

But what you really have to see is what happened after lunch.  Cheryl was all ready to bring her Big Shot into the restaurant because she wanted me to help her figure out a technique, but we decided our waiter wasn’t exactly the paper-crafting type and that we’d better try it in the parking lot.  Little did I know that she was ready to rock and roll:

Cheryl's Mobile Big Shot

Who else do you know that carries a folding table in the back of her van WITH her Big Shot?  There we were, crafting away in the parking lot.

Cheryl with the Mobile Big Shot

Honestly, you’ve got your Food Trucks, how about Big Shot Minivans?  I see a new business opportunity!

A red-eyed bat

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You may have seen this on other blogs – it’s a shameless CASE but I love it:

Red eyed bat

What did we do before the Big Shot? (and if you don’t have one, you can have one for FREE when you purchase the Demonstrator kit in October)

We did an awful lot of measuring and scoring and back-to-the-drawing-boarding, that’s what!

This is the Petal Cone die, with the top flaps cut off and a pair of sides attached as wings.  Those wings got a little Spider Web treatment (anyone remember Classy Brass and the Light Box?  SOOO much faster!)  This silly fellow has Red Glimmer Paper eyes and Shimmer White fangs, and of course a little Champagne Mist shimmer paint on his wings.   So easy to make and so much fun – he’ll have company before Halloween gets here!

A fabulous Holiday Mini

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The Holiday Mini catalog had my head spinning when I saw it for the first time.  There are so many products that I can really use!  Our new 1 inch by 8 inch cello bags are a perfect example:

Owl Trick or Treats

Stamp, stamp, punch, punch, stick, stick and you are DONE!

The challenge is getting the candies into the bag and not into my mouth.  And if you’re wondering, that little masquerading owl is from the Warmest of Wishes Holiday Mini Hostess set.  Like I said…

Cobwebs in my hat

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My little ghosts and goblins are mostly grown up.  At 17, my son (the “baby”)  isn’t very interested in costumes or carving pumpkins, and I’ve had to re-think Halloween.   I’m not such a fan that I’ll go all-out Martha style, but I’m enjoying putting together something for the entry to my home.  Here’s a simple start:

 

Witch's hat

 

 

  • House of Haunts stamp set
  • Basic Black and Whisper White card stock
  • Pumpkin Pie textured card stock
  • Pumpkin Pie Classic ink pad
  • Blender pen and Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and Sponge Daubers
  • Big Shot and Petal Cone L and Scallop Circle Bigz dies
  • Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing folder
  • Decorative Label and XL Oval punches
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sticky Strip and Mini Glue Dots
  • Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon

The hat is really simple – a petal cone assembled and inverted on a scallop circle.  I used a sponge dauber to highlight the Spider Web with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (an absolute MUST HAVE product).

If you purchase a demonstrator kit during the month of October, you’ll receive a Big Shot from Stampin’ Up! absolutely free!  Already have the Big Shot?  You can choose $100 worth of Stampin’ Up! product (think of all the dies you could get!) and pay nothing – not even tax or shipping!  Check out the details at my Online Store.

Using the right adhesive makes a huge difference.  Stampin’ Up! sells loads of different products and there is always one that is right for the job.  I use Sticky Strip whenever I assemble 3-D items to be sure they keep their shape, and I like to use Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach layers to cardstock that has gone through one of our Texutred Impressions Embossing folders.  Do you want to know the biggest secret for making this project stick together?  Assemble the Petal Cone die, being sure to Sticky Strip the flaps closed on the top of the cone.  Then use Mini Glue dots to attach the cone to the Scallop Circle.

If you do the math, you may be surprised to find that our adhesives are really cost effective.  Stampin’ Dimensionals are a penny apiece (ok, they’re 1 1/3 cents each if you want to be really technical) and Mini Glue dots are just under 2 cents each.  Once I sat down and figured that out I quit being so stingy with them – I use Mini Glue dots for everything now.  They’re REALLY sticky (just get one stuck to your fingernail and you’ll see what I mean!)

Why don’t you treat yourself to a fresh box of Mini Glue dots?  You deserve it.

 

 

 

 

 

My Paper Garden

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Look what’s growing in my garden:

Spice Cake Flowers

Easy, too – Spice Cake Designer Series paper, buttons, ribbon, twine – and of course my Simply Scored!

Here are a few tricks:

  • Score the paper every 1/4 inch.  I’ve tried scoring every half inch on one side, then flipping it over to score in the middle of each half inch on the other side (that creates every 1/4 inch alternating mountain and valley), but in my opininon it’s not worth the trouble.
  • Cardstock is harder to fan fold than Designer Series paper, so practice with the DSP – just be sure not to press so hard that you tear instead of score
  • Your paper doesn’t have to be tall – maybe 1 or 1 1/2 inches – but longer is better.  If it’s too short, when you try to fold the fan around to make a circle the top edge has to stretch too much and it will “lampshade” on you.  Mine are two pieces (8 1/2 inches) each stuck together with Sticky Strip.
  • To get a secure fan, I use my piercing tool and mat after I have scored to pierce a hole in the center of EACH panel at the bottom edge of the strip.   Then I use a big needle threaded with Linen Thread and stitch through the holes.  I leave the holes on either end for the last step:  when all the other holes are threaded, I attach the two ends of the paper strip with Sticky Strip and thread the Linen Thread through that last hole.  Then I can cinch up the fan and tie it off.

I know, I know, it sounds complicated.  The first one feels complicated.  After that, they are mindless.  Trust me.  I have a basket with pieces of these fan-fold flowers in varying states of completion, and when I have a couple of minutes I’ll work on them.  They are a perfect finishing touch!