A Little Inspiration

Matchbox Birthday with Vintage Tags

I love the matchbox die and when it was on sale last month, I jumped at the chance to add it to my collection of Sizzix BigShot Dies.

I used Pretty in Pink card stock for the box, Rose Red for the cover and the new jumbo wheel "Very Vintage" in Pretty in Pink ink on Whisper White card stock to make the band.

The ribbon is just lovely!  the 1/2" striped gorssgrain ribbon is so lovely to work with and holds it's shape so well.

The final touch is the "Vintage Label" in Rose Red on Whisper White, punched and threaded with a little bit of silver cord and stamped with the coordinating sentiment.

Now, to find the perfect little piece of jewelry to go inside for a very special birthday.

Supplies: 

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Whisper White

Stamps: Vintage Labels (Sale-A-Bration Catalog), Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel (Occasions Mini Catalog)

Other: Scallop circle punch, 1/16" Punch, Pretty in Pink 1/2" Striped Grossgrain Ribbon, Silver Cord

Happy Monday!  To place an order, click here and earn free stamps from the Sale-A-Bration catalog for every $50.00 purchase.  And, proceeds from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set will be sent to help the Red Cross in Haiti.

Milk Cartons Oh My!

 I have mentioned my love of miniatures in previous posts and now I have fallen in love with the Milk Carton die just released by Stampin' Up! in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  It is too cute!

I played around with it today, trying out a few of my new tools and came up with this:

I started with Rose Red card stock and layered the Whisper White band around the carton after punching the bottom edge with the Pinking Hearts Border Punch and stamping with I {Heart} Hearts along the paper in Rose Red and Pretty in Pink.

The sentiment was stamped in Rose Red on Pretty in Pink, punched with the small tag (I so want the Itty Bitty Tags now that I have the Milk Carton), added an eyelet and a little bit of ribbon.  I used the 3/16" crop-a-dile for the punch through the carton for the pink ribbon.

Supplies:

Ink: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink

Paper: Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Whimsical Words

Other: Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Small Tag Punch, Small Heart Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Eyelet, Ribbon

All items Stampin' Up! except ribbon & eyelet - still have a little ribbon to use up.

Make the most of this Sale-A-Bration!  Order online 24/7.

January Calendar (PPA26)

In my last post, I mentioned that I want to learn new skills and try some new techniques this year.  Well, I decided scrapbooking would be a great place to start.  So, inspired by Sharon Harnist, I have put together a calendar for January (I know it's almost over, I got a late start) and will then create a couple of pages for each month. 

The idea of a great big 12x12 sheet of paper seemed to be a little overwhelming so this calender is 6x6 (and fits perfectly in the SU Album $16.95)

The calender will sit next to my desk so I can write a note or two in the squares too.

The timing for this projects is perfect as this week over at Pals Paper Arts, it's "Anything BUT a Card" (PPA26).  So check out the awesome work by those gals too.

BTW:  Funny thing.  I've been cleaning my office out and have made tremendous progress.  My office is CLEAN (was).  And, suddenly I was afraid to pull out my 'toys' because I didn't want to make a mess.  Of course that didn't stop me for too long and the crazy thing?  It was so easy to create my project and then clean up because there is no clutter to work through and I have places to put things! It's too wonderful!

(Once the shelves are up, I'll show you pictures...)

Supplies (all SU! unless noted):

Ink: Pink Marker (stash)

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes

Paper: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze

Other: Cricut (numbers), Sizzix, Eyelet Border Punch, Rub-Ons

Have a great day!

Christmas Place Cards

Looking for a quick and simple way to dress up your holiday table this Christmas?

A couple of handy punches do the trick.

Step 1:

I cut my paper to 4.25 x 3.5 and trimmed both ends with the eyelet border punch, scored and folded the paper to make a tent. (If you are making a bunch, score your paper first, then cut & then punch.)

Step 2:

Then, I colored my stamp with Hunter Green and Real Red markers, stamped the image on Whisper White and punched out the image with the ornament punch.

Step 3:

Using leftover bits or Real Red (from punching the edges), I created the little ornament topper and adhered it with glue, along with about 2 inches of silver ribbon adhered to the back with tape.

Step 4:

The name plate uses the modern label and word window punches and the leaves were made with the BigShot - Sizzlits Little Leaves - but any adornment would do - or even could be left off.

A couple of minutes to cut, stamp, punch, and adhere and you are ready for the holiday party!

Supplies:

Paper: Real Red, Hunter Green, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red & Hunter Green Markers

Stamps: Holiday Best (Hostess Level 1)

Other: Eyelet Border, Ornament, Word Window & Modern Label Punches, and Sizzlits Little Leaves

To place an order, click here.

Or, to order a set or even a kit, click here.

Holiday Menu & Place Cards

Remember these place cards?

Well, I thought they needed a matching menu so I printed out my Mom's menu on Whisper White card stock, trimmed the edges, added some Real Red with eyelet border and layered it on Soft Suede.

Then, I added a little holly in Hunter Green and flourish in Real Red to match the place cards perfectly.

 

So simple, and yet it will add so much to the holiday table and the evening.

Supplies:

Paper: Real Red, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Hunter Green

Ink: Black - Printed with computer (French Script MT)

Other: Sizzix Festive Christmas Set, Eyelet Border Punch, Red 'Berries'

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

To place an order, click here.  Feel free to email/comment with any questions.

A Trio of Triangle Boxes

As you know, I love things mini and I also love boxes, trinkets, and well, I guess that's part of the reason I love to stamp (even though I didn't use any stamps in this project).  Anyway...

Here they are with little name tags attached for gifts, favor boxes, place settings, Secret Santa, stocking stuffers, oh the list goes on!

They are big enough to fit jewelry, candies, and plenty of pretties (not to mention a little Christmas Cash).

 Wouldn't they look cute decorating your tree?  You could easily hand them out on Christmas or even as surprise gifts (my hubby loves to hide things in the tree on Christmas Eve).

I used the Specialty Designer Series Paper from the Holiday Mini Catalog and this Triangle Box Template.

Just print, cut, score, fold, adhere and ta da!

I punched two holes on the tab with my Crop-a-Dile

The poinsettia on the front is made with the five petal punch (two punches layered), a flower in Kiwi Kiss from the Trio Punch and white gel dots.

This one has a longer ribbon to hang on the tree, a doorknob, the mantle, or ???

Supplies:

Paper:

• Specialty DSP (Holiday Mini Catalog)
• Real Red
• Kiwi Kiss (In Colors 2008-2009)

Other:

• Ribbon (stash)
• White Gel Pen
• 5 Petal Flower punch
• Trio flower punch
• Crop-a-dile 

So many fun ideas for the holidays and these are quite easy!

To place an order, click here and take advantage of the Thanksgiving Holiday savings!

Christmas Place Cards in Holly

Over the weekend, I started to play with some ideas for Christmas Place Cards.

I started with a soft, rustic yet elegant card using the Sizzlits Leaves (exclusive to Stampin' Up!) and liked the result of the flat card, but I felt it wasn't very 'Christmasy'.

So, inspired by my gift bag that I posted the other day, I pulled out the Specialty Designer Paper from the Holiday Mini Catalog, found some holly leaves, and came up with this.

I also had some 'berries' from decorative garland on hand and the leaves are by Sizzix (although Martha Stewart also has this nice template too).

BTW: They measure 4" wide x 3" high

Supplies:

Paper: Soft Suede, Real Red, Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper, Whisper White, Hunter Green

Other: Sizzix Festive Christmas Set, Holly Berries, Oval Punch, Oval Scallop Punch, & Eyelet Border Punch

To place an order, click here.  Would you like your own set of place cards for your table, just let me know or shop my Etsy store.

Gift Bags & Gift Cards

I have been having somuch fun making and decorating Christmas bags.  I just have to share this with you.

I started with a "Large" bag that measures about 4x3x1 and decorated with the Cocoa Specialty Paper, made a couple of holly leaves, found some little bells in my closet and of course, some ribbon.

 

For the matching card, I found some red beads that are perfect for the berries.

The card fits a gift card perfectly and they both fit inside the bag.  A little tissue paper completes the gift.

 Supplies:

 Stamps: All Holidays, Christmas Punch, Patterned Pines

Ink: Real Red

Paper: Kraft, Real Red, Cocoa Specialty Designers Series Paper, Whisper White, Dark Green (stash)

Other: Ribbon, Bell, Beads all from my stash

Punches: Oval Scallop Punch & Eyelet Border Punch

Thanks so much for stopping by. To place a Stampin' Up! order, click here.

If you would like some of these bags to decorate yourself, click here.

Mini Tag Bag

In my love for all things mini, I found this great little bag on my Cricut Cartridge (Plantin Schoolbook) and just had to make a mini bag with a matching tag.

The bag is so easy (especially when the machine does the cutting).  I wrapped the bag with a little bit of "Cottage Wall" Designer Series Paper, stamped Santa in Real Red on Whisper White card stock, punched him out and layered him on the Real Red Scallop Square (also punched).  With so many tools to use, everything is so much easier.

Then I made this little tag to go inside.  I stamped the poinsettia from Patterned Pines on Whisper White and cut it out with the punch.  I punched another in Real Red and one in Whisper White. 

Then, I cut the red one in half and adhered it to the stamped piece and put the second piece of Whisper White on the back with the red and the ribbon 'sandwiched' between.

A little ribbon to go on a package and it is finished.

Supplies:

Paper: Old Olive, Cottage Wall (DSP), Real Red, Whisper White

Stamps: Christmas Punch & Patterned Pines

Ink: Real Red

Other: Curly Label, 1 1/4" Square, and Square Scallop Punches, Ribbon (stash), Cricut (Plantin Schoolbook)

By the way, if you would like some small bags, I have them available in my shop - all kinds of sizes & colors and good prices too.

Have a great day!

A Little Christmas Cheer for the Table (PPA16)

Have you missed me?  I sure have missed you and being crafty in my little room.  This past week has gone by in a blur.  The good news is, I have so many new ideas to try out.

I had so much fun with my pumpkin place cards for Thanksgiving, I couldn't wait to get started on place cards for Christmas.

This is my first Christmas (Holiday) Place Card for this season and is perfect for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA16) "Christmas Cheer".

They are giving away "Blog Candy" so be sure to stop by.

The base is a 3 x 3.5" Soft Suede folded card, layered with Damask embossed Very Vanilla and edged with eyelet border in Real Red.

The stamps, from Patterned Pines are in Real Red and Old Olive cut out and placed with dimensionals.

Thanks to punches, this little tag was so easy and a little eyelet and red ribbon finishes the little place card.

Supplies:

Paper: Old Olive, Soft Suede, Real Red, Very Vanilla

Stamps: Patterned Pines

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive

Other: Damask Texture Plate (BigShot), Tag Punches, Eyelet Border Punch, Ribbon, Dimensionals, and Eyelet & Crop-a-dile