Things to Put Things In

Doesn’t that sound straight out of Winnie the Pooh?  The Bear of Very Little Brain seemed to be happy with containers.  We made a few different containers using the Owl Occasions set:

Here’s that chubby owl with a Bigz Stocking on a little frosted bag that just barely survived our class!  These bags are a little smaller than the classic kraft bag, and I find them a little more useful too.  Just run that stocking through your Big Shot with a TIEF (we used the Argyle folder) and stick it onto the bag with Glue Dots.  Glue dots rule!

Next up is the Fancy Favor box – one of the most useful, practical Bigz XL dies Stampin’ Up! carries.  There are two Fancy Favors here – one constructed as usual, the other cut short and folded over at the top  to make a lid.  Here’s a better look:

The sides are constructed in the usual way, but the bottom is rolled over like a paper bag instead of folded like the bottom of a box.  Because the top and bottom are exactly the same size, it can be a little tricky to put the top on – I find if you don’t roll it over until it’s fitted on top you have better luck.  And of course every project is better with a little bit of tulle and some Champagne Glimmer paper!!

This last project is so easy it’s almost embarassing.  Cut some fabric – we chose the Essentials Designer Fabric – and place it under the jar ring.  Stamp a quick tag with Owl Occasions and cut it out with the Decorative label punch.  Add a little bling and some ribbon around the jar ring and you are finished – except for filling the jar of course!

Do you have the RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour on your calendar for November 11?  There will be LOADS of inspiration for the Winter Memories stamp set – be sure you stop by!

Casing Jill Hilliard

Do you know Jill?  She’s a fabulous Stampin’ Up! demonstrator with an amazing talent for doing loads of things and doing them well.   This includes creating fabulous cards.  I cased two of them for a card class that Crystal and I did a couple of weeks ago.  Just in case you missed them on Jill’s Card Creations I’ll share them with you today!

  • Owl Occasions stamp set
  • Whisper White and Gumball Green card stock
  • Gumball Green, Early Espresso and Raspberry Ripple FFIP
  • Gumball Green Stitched ribbon

So easy and so cute!!  That is “Jill Style” in a nutshell.  I’m smittin with this owl – don’t miss the Owl Occasions stamp set in the Holiday catalog, as it works for both Christmas and birthdays!

One little round guy deserves another:

  • Scentsational Seasons and More Merry Messages stamp sets
  • Soft Suede and Cherry Cobbler FFIP
  • Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, and Crumb Cake card stock
  • Champagne Mist Glimmer paper
  • Be of Good Cheer Designer Series paper
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots TIEF
  • Cherry Cobbler bakers twine
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

Couldn’t you just Eat Him Up??  Poor little Gingerbread Man, it’s hard to “Run, run, as fast as you can” when you are stuck to a card with a Stampin’ Dimensional.  Look at his little face:

He seems pretty happy despite that predicament.  It must be due to that gorgeous Champagne Glimmer paper next to him.  I would smile too.

Don’t forget to stop by on the 11th for the RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog tour!  We’re featuring Winter Memories in November and you will LOVE what we have in store for you!!

 

More Core’dinations

Shabby chic is just a little worn, a little feminine, and a look all its own.  It’s not a style I play with often, but our Core’dinations paper just begs to be shabby:

That little bit of sparkle from the Champagne Glimmer paper and the gleam from the Brushed Bronze designer buttons are such a contrast to the distressed look of the embossed Core’dinations paper.  And look at this button and tell me you aren’t ready to hum a little Jingle Bells…

All of these shades of brown – the Early Espresso paper, the Crumb Cake tulle, the Suede taffeta ribbon, and the Champagne Glimmer paper – work together to create a deep, rich card with a lot of texture and depth despite being monochromatic.  This is an “out of the box” holiday card – but hand-made Christmas cards don’t come in boxes at all, do they?

Don’t forget our fabulous Ink-redible offer!  Build a business or buy your crafting supplies at a discount, but give this serious thought as Stampin’ Up! doesn’t extend this opportunity very often!

  • Who:      Stampin’ Up!
  • What:     Free Subtles, Regals or Brights Collection FFIP (Firm Foam Ink Pads)
  • When:    Now until December 16
  • Where:   My Online Store
  • Why:       DUH!!!   It’s free!

How?  There are two ways to get 10 free ink pads.  Hostess a Stampin’ Up! event with at least $450 in sales and they’re yours for free…OR take the leap and become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for $99!  The demonstrator kit includes plenty of business supplies PLUS $125 of whatever Stampin’ Up! product you would like from either catalog or My Digital Studio downloads – and 10 free ink pads.  Either way you win – contact me or stop by the Online Store for more information.

Sparkle and shine – and FREE INK!!!

We interrupt our previously scheduled post to shout:  FREE INK!!!

  • Who:      Stampin’ Up!
  • What:     Free Subtles, Regals or Brights Collection FFIP (Firm Foam Ink Pads)
  • When:    Now until December 16
  • Where:   My Online Store
  • Why:       DUH!!!   It’s free!

How?  There are two ways to get 10 free ink pads.  Hostess a Stampin’ Up! event with at least $450 in sales and they’re yours for free…OR take the leap and become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for $99!  The demonstrator kit includes plenty of business supplies PLUS $125 of whatever Stampin’ Up! product you would like from either catalog or My Digital Studio downloads – and 10 free ink pads.  Either way you win – contact me or stop by the Online Store for more information.

OK, where were we?

Ah yes.  Seriously, who doesn’t love a little bit of sparkle?  I’m not a super-sparkly, bedazzled kind of girl but I definitely love a touch of bling.  Crystal and I went all out with these tags for last weekend’s Christmas Extravaganza:

We embossed the Petite Pocket and dressed it up with a little bit of Ruffled Tulle, then filled it with a sparkly pair of tags.  It’s just the right size!  The tags are easy as can be – and pretty fabulous:

There were two classes, so there were two pockets and two sets of tags.  Here’s the second pocket without the tags in it:

And the final set of tags:

 

Versatile ornaments

These ornaments can be used in so many ways:

  • Ornaments Keepsakes stamp set
  • Elegant Eggplant FFIP
  • Elegant Eggplant and Very Vanilla card stock
  • Champagne Glimmer paper
  • Color Spritzer
  • Elegant Eggplant Polka Dot ribbon
  • Big Shot, Holiday Framelits and Holiday Frame TIEF
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

Where’s that polka dot ribbon, you say?  Well, it’s inside out – you just have to do a little twistin’ and tweakin’ to get it just right.  This would be an easy card to duplicate – you could cut multiple framelits in one pass of the Big Shot by using multiple images from the set.

What are you doing for holiday cards this year?

 

Pillow Gifts from Hilton Head

The Stampin’ Up! Hilton Head Incentive Trip was last month.  Although I earned the trip, I didn’t attend as it conflicted with my God-daughter’s wedding in California.  (It was a FABULOUS weekend and I absolutely made the right decision!!)  Stampin’ Up! is generous, though, and I received a lovely cash bonus.  I’d forgotten that I would also be getting the pillow gifts until an unexpected box arrived last week:

Yes, it’s a Lands’ End bag!  It’s big, too – it will hold my 15″ laptop!  Gorgeous, isn’t it?  And that’s our Polka Dot fabric too – can’t wait to make a few more of these myself.

How sweet is that logo?  Yeah, it’s our red rubbah…and look what else was inside the box:

It’s like Christmas in October!

Watch for new projects with Fan Fair Designer Series paper and the Postage Due stamp set!

If you’re on Maui, there are a couple of spots left for tomorrow’s classes at the Masonic Lodge in Kahului.  Everything is ready for you at the table:

We’re making cards in the morning from 9 til noon, and owl themed crafts after lunch.  Hope you can join us!

The Holly and the Pines

At hostess club last week we made a card with an extra surprise inside:

Well, that isn’t the inside now, is it?  It’s actually pretty simple, and if I were to do it again I would give it the Maui Stamper More Is More treatment, but I wanted to have time for the inside:

  • Ornament Keepsakes, Watercolor Winter and More Merry Messages stamp sets
  • Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stock
  • Be of Good Cheer Designer Series paper
  • Champagne Glimmer Paper
  • Lucky Limeade and Cherry Cobbler FFIP
  • Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon
  • Big Shot and Labels Collections  and Holiday CollectionFramelits
  • Adorning Accents Edgelits
  • Festive Paper Piercing Pack
  • Stampin’ Pierce Mat
  • Paper Piercing Tool, aka Pokey Doodle
  • Aquapainter
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Sticky Strip

It’s a simple but pretty way to add an extra page for a Christmas message!

Moving Forward with love

Hello, dear friend – who wouldn’t like to hear those words?  Or read them, for that matter:

  • Moving Forward stamp set
  • Pacific Point Classic FFIP
  • Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Write marker
  • Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler card stock
  • Pacific Point Prints Pack Designer Series paper
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots TIEF
  • Blender pen
  • 3 inch Bigz Circle
  • 2 1/2 inch Circle Punch
  • Rhinestone Jewels

I took this project to the high school my kids attended as a thank you to the hard-working staff.  They had such a good time, we’ll do it again!

Stampin’ by…AppLight??

The Maui Stampers decided to try something new for our team meeting, and last night we met at Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping center.  It provided a central location, plenty of tables, and a variety of “nutritional options”.  However, what we had failed to realize was that it was VERY short on light.

Nevertheless, once the business part was done we persevered with our project.  We were having a hard time seeing what we were doing when Crystal, being the brilliant girl she is, whipped out her phone and said “I’ve got an app for that!”

It did a good job, wouldn’t you say?

It clearly didn’t stop us from having a good time!!

Crystal spotted an electrical outlet and said next time she’ll bring her craft lamp.

A little Core’dination

I realize I’m a Stampin’ Up! dork.  Someone asked me today to imagine how I would respond to something if I weren’t a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and I couldn’t do it.  Couldn’t imagine NOT being a demo.  Couldn’t imagine NOT having access to the SU website, NOT going to convention and all the other great events, not being part of the “demonstrator club”.  So it should come as no surprise What So Ever that I am doing the Happy Dance about yet another new Holiday catalog product!

  • Gently Falling and Kindness Matters stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, More Mustard and Cajun Craze card stock
  • Early Espresso Core’dination card stock
  • Early Espresso, Canjun Craze and More Mustard Classic ink pads
  • Big Shot
  • Woodgrain TIEF
  • Window Frames Framelits
  • Regals Designer Buttons
  • Linen Thread
  • Stampin’ Sandin’ System

Oh my goodness.  LOVE this Core’dinations paper!!   LOVE that Woodgrain TIEF!!  Love the Stampin’ Sandin’ System!!  (OK, maybe I don’t love the name, but the product – yeah, baby!)  And if Stampin’ Up! ever retires the Linen Thread, I will buy up every last package in the warehouse.

The Core’dinations paper does amazing things with a TIEF.  It’s thicker than regular cardstock and has a tone-on-tone interior.  Run it through the Big Shot and you’ll see the core peep through, but hit it with that new sanding block and fabulous things take place.  This is not your grandmother’s sanding block, crafters; this is a sanding block on steroids!  And the sandy goodness attaches with velcro so you can switch out the yucky old paper for fresh, growly, chew-up-that-core’dinations paper!

Are you a Stampin’ Up! dork?  Isn’t it time you gave yourself the gift of becoming a demonstrator?  $99 for $125 worth of product PLUS a heap of business supplies…you’re worth it!   Visit www.AnneMatasci.StampinUp.net to learn all about it.