Choo Choo | The Maui Stamper

I love this little train. Must be in my blood. My dad has been a model railroader since he was a teenager. Growing up, we never had a garage like all the other families in the neighborhood. We had an HO scale model railroad. The garage was enclosed and carpeted complete with stereo, phone service, and a workbench. And we were NEVER allowed to call it cute. It was True To Scale. Lifelike. Authentic. On vacations, we would visit the places my dad’s layout represented in true-to-scale, lifelike authenticity. One year, I noticed that the station on the layout at home didn’t look exactly like the real thing. Not the first time I should have learned to keep my thoughts and observations to myself.

Anyway, I love trains. This one seems like a little boy train and would be perfect for a baby card, but I was actually thinking more along the line of Little Engine That Could. Not exactly true-to-scale and lifelike but absolutely authentic.

Happiness Train

Choo Choo and Hope Happens stamp sets; Right on Track wheel
Real Red, Old Olive, Brocade Blue and Basic Black Classic Ink pads and Stampin’ Write Markers
Real Red, Old Olive, Kraft, Whisper White and Naturals White cardstock
Brocade Blue 5/8″ grosgrain ribbon, Natural twine, and Playground Designer Buttons
Stampin’ Dimensionals and Pop-Up glue dots

And yes, my dad still runs trains. The garage is still home to the HO layout, but there’s now a Garden Railway winding it’s way in and out of my mom’s beautiful flower beds. Everyone in the family has a business along the railway, too. You’ll know which one is mine. Yep. Anne’s Stampin’ Up! Only brick and mortar Stampin’ Up! business outside of Kanab, Utah.

Are you tired of seeing cards yet? This is a simple project that makes a cute small gift. The box is made from two Scallop Envelopes – exclusive Stampin’ Up! dies – and a couple of small rectangles to fill in the sides. If you don’t have a Big Shot, you could…well, I just don’t see how you could make something this cute without a Big Shot!

Just for You tote 003_wmk_crop

The cards are 3 x 3 and very simple – stamp, mat and attach. The box is quick too – attach the envelopes to each other across the bottom, add a couple of sides and voila! Stamp a sentiment for the front, wrap the ribbon around and attach with a little sticky strip, glue or sew the button on and you’re done. The envelopes are Stampin’ Up! mini square envelopes.

Choo Choo, Teeny Tiny Wishes and Branch Out stamp sets and Right on Track wheel
Real Red, So Saffron, and Brocade Blue Classic ink and Close to Cocoa ink cartridge
Real Red, So Saffron, Brocade Blue, and Basic Black Stampin’ Write Markers
Whisper White, Real Red, So Saffron and Brocade Blue cardstock
Big Shot and Scallop Envelope die
Oval and Scallop oval punches
Real Red narrow grosgrain ribbon, Playground Designer Buttons