Build-a-Santa-Bear

Posted on by
2

Last weekend was the final class in Anne and Crystal’s fantastic Holiday Series.  This bag definitely got high marks in the cute department, and would make any boy or girl – big or small – anxious to get a look inside.  We all agreed that you couldn’t put a gift for Just Anyone in such a cute bag…it would have to be a special someone, a someone who would appreciate both the Cute Factor and the effort that goes into attaching all the little pieces that make this bear so darn…well…cute!

BAB_bag

  • Big Shot, Stampin’ Up! Bear die, Stampin’ Up! Beary Merry die
  • Stampin’ Up! Pawsitively Embosslit, Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz plate
  • Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Black, and Summer Sun cardstock
  • Many Merry Messages stamp set
  • Scallop edge punch, 1 3/4″ circle punch,  Gold Elastic cord, Old Olive 1/2″ striped grograin ribbon
  • Purchased kraft handle bag

I’m a big fan of gift bags.  In addition to being the easiest wrapping job you could imagine, they’re re-usable.  I’ve noticed a big difference in the amount of trash we collect on Christmas morning since we’ve started using more bags.  They’re not peek-proof, though, and I usually have all the gift bag gifts hidden (and hidden well, I might add) to be placed under the tree on Christmas Eve.  Just because my kids – and dear husband – are mostly grown up is no assurance that they won’t peek.  They all like to poke, prod and shake, and gift bags are just too great a temptation.

 

 

Dasher in the Holiday Lounge – MojoMonday113

Posted on by
3

I am SO excited I’m going to have to disable the Caps button on my keyboard so I don’t just shout this entire post!  (Perhaps I’ll disable the exclamation mark, too.)  This is such a late post for me today…all day I’ve tried to get to the Mojo Monday sketch, and all day there have been other things that got in the way.  I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to do, and Heaven help me, when I finally sat down to put it together it was even better than I imagined!  (OK.  Breathe here.)

So, what do YOU think??Mojo Monday 113 Dasher in the Holiday Lounge

  • Dasher and Holiday Best (Hostess Level I) Stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Brushed Gold, Sahara Sand and Ruby Red cardstock; Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper
  • Encore Gold Pad; Taken with Teal and Ruby Red Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Whisper White taffeta ribbon; Piercing tool and template; Stampin’ Dimensionals; Clear Detail embossing powder and heat tool

I’ve had so much trouble with the Mojo Monday sketches in the past…this makes me really, really happy.  I hope you like it too.

Autumn leaves

Posted on by
3

Another of the projects that I’ve wanted to tackle forever has made it to completion.  There’s a beautiful wreath on page 92 of the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalog made with the Leaves #2 Originals die (113459, $15.95).  I had my own color scheme in mind, and over the past couple of weeks I’ve cut out leaves and figured out what to use for a form.  I finally took a big breath and starting attaching the leaves to the base.  I often get stuck at that commitment point – my idea seems so clear in my head, and I get all the components ready to go, but putting the project together makes my fingers go all shaky.

Yesterday the wreath came into being and I am very pleased with the results.

Leaves_Wreath

  • Big Shot, Sizzix Leaves #2 Originals Die, and Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz plates
  • So Saffron, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, and Soft Suede cardstock
  • Thoroughly Modern, Old Olive Patterns, and a retired Designer Series Paper
  • 12″ Wire wreath form, cheesecloth, hot glue and gun, and purchased Gold 1 1/2″ wire edge ribbon

Here are the basic construction steps:

  1. Wrap cheesecloth around the wire frame and secure with loose basting stitches
  2. Cut 24 sheets of leaves (4 leaves per sheet)
  3. Attach leaves to outside edge of wreath, one at a time, using hot glue and overlapping
  4. Repeat process for inside edge of wreath
  5. Fill in the center of the wreath, balancing for shape and color
  6. Attach ribbon and bow; hang wreath and admire!

Here’s what the wreath form looked like before the leaves went on:

Wreath_bones

Wreath_first_l;ayer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you’re inspired – it was much easier than I thought it would be.  It’s a great way to use up those odd sheets of Designer Series papers, too, as each page yields 4 sheets of leaves.  Now pull out that Big Shot and get crankin’!!

 

 

Shimmery pines

Posted on by
1

It amazes me how quickly days pass by.  It’s always been that way for me.  I’m sure  I thought Christmas or my birthday or whatever longed-for day in the future would never arrive when I was small, but I don’t remember that.  I just know that every day I wake up thinking “How am I going to do everything I want today?” and every night I wonder where the day went.

This card has been waiting patiently in the To-Do list of my mind for a while.  A few days ago, it actually made it to the paper To-Do list, which is a significant step on the road to “git ‘er done”.  This was going to be a Dasher Snow Globe, because I had a lovely comment which put that idea into my mind, but Dasher is off visiting Crystal and his Snow Globe Debut will have to wait.

Shimmer_Pines_Snowglobe

  • Patterned Pines and All Holidays Stamp sets
  • Whisper White and Brushed Gold cardstock
  • Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink pads; Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Old Olive wide grosgrain ribbon, Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Sponges

Cards are SO difficult to photograph!  You can’t see the Shimmer mixed in with the Tempting Turquoise sponged on as background, but I promise you it’s there.  The First Star just to the left of the center Pine is stamped in Shimmer Paint too.  And the base of the globe is gold, not olive.   Really.

I’m working on posting the template for the Snow Globe card since so many of you are interested, but for now, leave me a comment with your email address if you would like a copy.   The template is now available HERE

If you’re interested in an Over-The-Top Snow Globe, check out THIS tutorial over at SplitCoastStampers.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Your To-Do list will languish for days if you get hooked on those.

A wonderful, generous, talented woman

Posted on by
1

Do you like the Maui Stamper’s new look?  Isn’t it absolutely GORGEOUS????

Many, many thanks to an amazing woman living, working and designing in the not-very-tropical state of Wisconsin.  Debbi Rippentrop of Debbi’s Design made this gorgeous new design for me using My Digital Studio.  She customized the colors using my absolute favorite Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss and added buttons and ribbons as well.  She personally stepped me through installing it (because I am NOT a web design wizard, not by a very very long shot) and invested hours of her time in learning the ins and outs of WordPress in order to guide me.

She’s a gem, a generous and giving soul.  Please stop over at Debbi’s Design and tell her how wonderful she is!

Christmas bags: Delightful Decorations

Posted on by
Reply

Crystal and I offer a series of classes in the fall to inspired our customers for Christmas.  Tomorrow we’re doing the last of the set – Christmas bags.  Today you get a little sneak peak of one of those bags.  It’s very, very easy, and we designed it to perfectly coordinate with THIS card.

Ornament_bag

  • Delightful Decorations and All Holidays Stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry card stock
  • Old Olive, Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry Classic ink pad
  • Ornament punch; Scallop Edge punch; 1/16″ hand held punch
  • Gold brad, Stampin Dimensional, 5/8″ Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Gold elastic cord
  • Purchased white bag and gold wired ribbon

I’m really pleased with all of the bags we’ve designed for this class.  Maybe next year, you’ll plan your trip to Maui just right and be able to join us!

Pretty Pheasants All in a Row

Posted on by
1

This Autumn Days stamp set has proved itself much more versatile than I anticipated. The leaves, the grasses, and especially the pheasants have surprised me in the best possible way.

We do have pheasants on Maui…not down here at sea level where I live, but on Haleakala, in the area of the island we call “Upcountry”.  Maui has so many micro climates – wet side, dry side, sand at sea level, red dirt at upper elevations, lava flows and forest – if you don’t like what you see, keep going because in a few miles it will change.  I always like what I see.

I colored these fellows with markers and then masked them so they could step through the weeds together.

Pheasants_in_a_row

  • Autumn Days and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango and Very Vanilla cardstock
  • Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie and Summer Sun Stampin’ Write Markers
  • Chocolate Chip and More Mustard Class ink pads; Basic Black Stampin’ Write Journaler
  • Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon; mini glue dots; Stampin’ Sponges; Scotch Post-it notes (for mask)

They’re all relaxed-like, cruising through the weeds, because they know they’re safe for now – it’s Big Cousin Tom Turkey who needs to be lookin’ out in November.

 

My Digital Studio

Posted on by
Reply

Well, I’ve taken the leap and landed on both feet – at least for the first attempt!  I’ve had My Digital Studio for a couple of weeks, and have been trying to squeeze in the training and some play time.  One of the tasks I needed to complete for certification through Stampin’ Up!  was to design a card and have it printed by the printing service Stampin’ Up! has contracted.  My debut arrived yesterday afternoon and I am absolutely thrilled.

4th_Nov_09-001

I used the Summer Home Designer Series Papers with the Friends 24-7 Stamp brush set.   Friends 24-7 has been on my wish list for a long time, and now I have it – along with many, many other stamp sets – at the click of my mouse!

The part you can’t see from the upload – and this isn’t a scan, it’s a direct jpg from the MDS program – is the gorgeous quality of the printing and the paper.  I really ought to try a home print job on my inkjet printer, but I kinda hate to waste the ink because there’s no way it will compare with the look and feel of this card.  I’m something of a paper snob, and this paper is really beautiful.

Now, check out the inside:

4th_Nov_09-002

4th_Nov_09-003

I know it’s hard to see, but there’s a gorgeous filigree image that continues across the entire inside of the card.  I was able to align the two pages perfectly using the tools in MDS, and faded the image out enough so that it creates a subtle watermark.  I’m really pleased.

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to part with this card.  It’s stored on my hard drive and I can print another one any time I want one.  We’ll see.

For more information about My Digital Studio, click HERE or contact me.

Beautiful leaves

Posted on by
1

Last month Ray and I were in New Hampshire and Boston to see the fall color and visit our daughter at Tufts University.  We got a little bit of everything in just over a week…gorgeous blue sky, cloudy sky, snow…brilliant leaves…great food…and of course, time with our favorite university student.  (I can say this now that her sister is graduated and her brother is still in high school.)  In Hawaii, leaves don’t change color much, so the sight of a tree like this really took our breath away.

Portsmouth-leaves

I’ve wanted to work with these colors since I got home, and this morning I had my opportunity.  I love the reds and oranges in the photo, and the way they contrast with the brilliant blue sky. Within 24 hours, by the way, we were looking at grey skies and snow, so that blue sky is a fond memory!  No blues in my card though…I had a different idea.

Autumn Days Leaf Wreath

  • Autumn Days, Woodgrain and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango and Naturals Ivory cardstock
  • More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Old Olive, and Pumpkin pie Classic Ink pad; Versamark ink pad
  • Dusty Durango Stampin’ Write marker and Aquapainter
  • Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, Vintage brads, piercing tool and mat pack, double rectangle punch, 3/4″ square punch and corner rounder punch
  • Tissue paper and Dotto

I wanted my wreath to have a nice circular shape, so I traced a circle very lightly with a pencil onto my cardstock before I started.  I think if I were to do it again, I would try to avoid getting ink on the stems of the leaves – they’re not a big deal, but I would be happier if they weren’t visible.   I just played with the leaves in the circle until I liked the pattern and fullness.  Of course, then I got the brilliant idea that the image needed the Woodgrain background.  I’m crazy, but I’m not crazy enough to cut out all those leaves for masking.  That’s nuts.  Seriously.

Instead, I placed a piece of tissue paper over the image, drew an arrow to indicate the top, and traced around the inside and outside perimeters of the wreath.  I did a rough cut around the edges and used a little Dotto to hold that mask in place.  When I stamped the Woodgrain, it looked a little stark so I blurred it with my Aquapainter.

The little banner isn’t pegged down completely flat – it has a little lift to it in real life.  Those lovely, symetrical corners were created with the corner of the square punch – you didn’t think I could get them like that on my own, did you? And just in case you don’t know the piercing tool and mat trick, that’s the way to get perfect placement for your brads anywhere on your project.

This is a 5 x 5 inch card, a size I almost never work with.  I think I’ll have to change that.

 

Flip scrapbooks

Posted on by
Reply

Ah, Monday.  My To-Do list is long and the days grow shorter.  I’m struggling to do the things that must be done before I tackle the things I really want to do.  Being grown up and attentive to one’s responsibilities is such a challenge.  I think I enjoy stamping precisely because it allows me to forget that I’m a grown-up!

Saturday, I did a Flip Album class using Simply Scrappin’ kits.  (Topic derail:  I have such awesome customers.  They bring goodies, they laugh and share stories, and they make me feel like a genius.  Even when I’m not.  Thanks, friends!)  I gotta tell you, the Scrappin’ kits make this project an absolute breeze.  My friend Kellie had the absolutely BRILLIANT idea of adding a CD pocket to the design and I’ll be making a Christmas music CD to fill the pocket.

Olive_Jingle_Flip

  • Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin’ Kit
  • Real Red 1″ Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
  • Sticky Strip

 

Red_Jingle_Flip

  • Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin’ Kit
  • Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (retired)
  • Sticky Strip

These are a lot easier than you might think!  I’m a pretty visual person, so it helped me to hold an actual Flip Album in my hands while I read the directions.  If you’d like basic instructions, check THIS link for a PDF.  I made both of these with one Simply Scrappin’ kit and had plenty of resources left for at least one or two more.  If I get enough requests, I’ll take some photos of the inside.  Maybe.  If I’m feeling really grown up about the whole thing.