Embellish It Yourself Mini-Albums

Here are a few mini-albums for Saturday's craft fair. These were made with SU!'s Scallop Circle and Clear Scallop Square dies. I first used SU's Glue Stick to adhere the paper on chipboard (mostly the stuff that comes with packs of paper) before running it through the Big Shot. Only the front and back are chipboard and then I added cardstock inside for the pages (also run through the Big Shot).

I tried a variety of themes and then created a little bag of coordinating embellishments so people had a choice. For example, in the first picture, the image from "Special Blessings" lends itself to a wedding, baptism, first communion etc. so I offered all those sentiments. Next, I broke out the Sticky Cuts and glitter for tween albums.

Finally, I used the new "Pony Party" and the retired "Prehistoric Pals" for a girl or boy birthday album respectively. For the boy embellishments, I used the new "Look Who's Turning" stamp set and provided all the numbers so someone can pick the age the kid is turning. This project makes a great gift and still lets someone else add their personal touch.

Embellish It Yourself Mini-Albums

Notebook & Beaded Pen Sets

I took a break from my making-jewelry obsession to make a few altered composition notebooks with matching beaded pens. I like making these because I can do a lot in front of the TV :)

I made these for my craft fairs last year too and sold out of them so y'know--had to make more! (I sell them for $7 if you're curious. When I sell them alone, the beaded pens go for $2.50.) I always stick with Stampin' Up! designer papers, ribbon & stamps for these because everything coordinates easily,which saves me a lot of time when creating in bulk.

The first set is from the retired Rockabilly Specialty Paper (with tweeners in mind). My seven year old son wants the rock star one of course. That stamp is from the "Little Something" retired hostess set.

This second set uses the retired Good Morning Sunshine paper & coordinating stamp ("Cheep Talk") & retired rub-ons. I also used the Scallop Circles #2 die & the Circle Scissors Plus.







This last one uses the retired Raspberry Tart paper and more dies--SU! Birds & Blooms Sizzlet and SU! Sweetest Stem embosslit.

Few nitty gritties...some people make these by folding the paper over and then covering the inside covers. I simply cut very close to the edge, adhere (with SU! glue sticks), trim off excess and sand the edges. My 5 year old daughter has a notebook I made a year ago and it's withstood her um, lack of order without coming apart so I stand by my methods. My year old pen has held up well too.

I use Pentel RSVP pens--some people roll the paper up and insert it inside the pen. I didn't think you could see much of the paper, so I use sticky tape (the 1 1/2" wide Scor-Tape) to adhere it to the outside of the clear barrel and then use the tape again to adhere the ribbon & then clear micro-beads. SU! now sells Sticky Sheets so you could also cut those to size and use them too. Be sure not to adhere the bottom of the pen while making these because then you can't open them to refill the ink (one of the main selling points of these pens!) Also, add the paper & tape with the cap on--otherwise, you might not be able to close it all the way if you take it off. I also use sticky tape (the 1/4" kind) to adhere my ribbon to the notebooks.

Finally, I love to add some final bling to my images so if you look closely, you'll see I added Stickles to the first two sets and colored half-back pearl embellishments to the last one.

Notebook & Beaded Pen Sets

Congrats Mini-Album

I love being able to make projects for a specific reason--like a gift! A friend of mine needed a gift for her friend who's graduating from college (in middle-age too--an impressive feat!) So, I whipped up this simple album using the Scallop Circle die & Big Shot. The outside covers are chipboard covered with the retired "Ginger Blossoms" paper. The inside pages are just cardstock--the retired Groovy Guava & River Rock. This album took four runs through the Big Shot, four punches with the Crop-a-Dile, attach Jumbo Pewter eyelet & assemble with a D-Ring. So easy! Totally gave me ideas for my craft fairs!

For the "Embrace Life" flower, I stamped in Versamark & then River Rock, sprinkled with Clear Embossing Powder & melted with my heat tool. Then I used Groovy Guava & Ruby Red inkpads & an aquapainter to watercolor. Any "overlapping" wipes off the embossing with a rag so the River Rock outline stays crisp. Used the the Circle Scissors Plus to cut out the circles (using serious adhesive on the back--otherwise, the paper moves around.)

The only embellishment I made to the inside was on the back inside cover with this sweet sentiment & punched flower. Otherwise, I punched & glittered a bunch of flowers & put in a baggie so the recipient could add them where she'd like (a great idea for craft fairs I think).

Congrats Mini-Album

Mother's Day Mini-Album

I made this Accordian Mini-Album as a sample for a Mother's Day gift class I'm having May 1 (if you're local to DC--there are still a few spots left!). I learned how to make it at my local Stampin' Up! group's recent meeting. I also got the idea for the butterfly from that meeting too. You simply wrap a ribbon around the butterfly (made from SU!'s Butterfly Die), add Sticky Strip and ribbon.

If you email me, I can send you a file with the instructions from my meeting but I'm not sure if I should post them directly on here. Basically, you'll need a Large Scallop Die and a Big Shot.

To decorate the album, I used Bella Rose Designer Paper, Red Riding Hood
and Kiwi Kiss 12 x 12 cardstock. The stamps are from a few different sets, including: All Holidays, Enjoy the Moment, Stitched Exotics, God's Blessings and Fifth Avenue Floral. (The sentiment under the first photo and after "Enjoy" is: "the little things" with a pic of my kids). I was really pleased with the way it all came together as a special Mother's Day gift!

Mother's Day Mini-Album

Princess Panorama

My baby girl is 5 & for her Birthday, we "unbabyfied" her room. The baby quilt came down & up went a butterfly net (bought 3 years ago at a consignment sale, just waiting for her to be old enough not to tear it down first chance she got) & a "princess panorama." When I saw Stampin' Up!'s new "Build a Fairy-tale" die cuts & decor elements, I was thrilled because I knew they'd be perfect for that big empty wall!

Luckily, her Birthday came just as I got all my new goodies from the new catalog & I could at least promise her I'd make a special picture for her. So here it is--a week later! I don't think I've ever been this obessed with a project--yesterday I forgot to eat (or shower)! I grabbed chips on the way out for afternoon carpool. At least I remembered to put my youngest in the car. Today I framed it & added the decor elements around it.

We found a frame that fits essentially three 12" x 12" scrapbook layouts perfectly. I used the new Sale-a-Bration paper for the background. Then along the borders, I used the new Eyelet Border punch. Then I went to town creating a scene with the Build a Fairy Tale die cuts. I still have lots left over, believe it or not! I can use those for scrapbook albums.

For added texture, I sponged the edges of everything in ink if I could. I also added glitter here & there--I'm loving all the new colors! For some centers of the flowers, I sprinkled glitter on a mini-glue dot. If I used a die cut circle for a flower center, then I covered it with a dot of Crystal Effects for a glass look. Check out the adorable little birds on the tree branch--love them! My daughter took another one (for "safe-keeping" she said).

Figuring out how to configure the castle was a little challenging because the die cuts don't come with a sample, so you just have to play. In this middle part, my favorite details are the half-back pearl from the Pretties Kit at the princess' neck & the Sale-a-Bration Saffron grosgrain "yellow brick road" leading to the castle over hill & dale.

There was a huge space above the carriage perfect for some kind of title, so I came up with this--probably saw it on a stamp somewhere--lol! I tried to make it look like a banner waving. If you don't have something to cut curves, you could make a template & use a hobby knife. The "I" & "Y" letters were stamped with the Lovely Letters set in Versamark. Then I used Heat & Stick Powder to make the Chocolate Glitter stick to them. They are matted on a tag from the new SU! die "Lots of Tags"--kind of look like little mirrors, don't they? The pink letters are from the Naturally Serif sizzlit die.

My favorite details here are the little mice peeking up at the carriage with their tails curling around the border. I wasn't going to add them because I didn't think I had room but my daughter really wanted them. So, that caused me to be creative & tuck them into the border. I'm also digging the gold glitter on the carriage--it looks really pretty on the chocolate! (My daughter wanted me to "do something with the carriage" too--she's a muse, I tell you.)

But what I love most is while she was watching me, she was making up stories about the characters--like the Princess is on her way to get married to the Prince Knight. She always puts our family into her stories too. I get to be the pink fairy--I can live with that :-)

Princess Panorama

Much Love For Die Cut Cards

So here are the Main Course & Dessert projects for my recent Valentine Buffet event. I wanted to showcase not only the Love You Much Valentine Bundle Promotion, but also making cards with our Big Shot dies.

The first card uses the Top Note die--when you run it through the Big Shot, fold it & leave it just a little to the right of where the die cuts so that it cuts out a card still connected on the left side. The ribbon was threaded through the two holes the die cut made when you place the cardstock slightly over like that. I also used the new Sweet Stems Embosslit & 3 Hearts Punch (for the flower) & Raspberry Tart Designer Paper (Gorgeous stuff!!)


The second card uses the Large Scallop circle die with the fold slightly below three of the scallops. I ran the Candy Lane Designer Paper strip at the same time but above the scallops. Then when I adhered it to the card, it looks like a complete circle & you can't see the fold. Hope that makes sense.



Finally, For this card I used the Scalloped Envelope die. My intention was that you could write a love note or I.O.U. on the other side of the pull-out card (like, I.O.U. breakfast in bed). The little ribbon tab is secured by the brad & makes it really easy to pull out the card from the envelope.

Much Love For Die Cut Cards

Valentine Buffet Appetizer

I'm having a "Valentine Buffet" on Jan. 23 & here's the first offering, the appetizer, if you will.

I wanted to showcase the Valentine Bundle (3 Heart Punch, Love You Much stamp set, Candy Lane Designer Paper), as well as the Big Shot dies. So, first is a candy topper made from the Top Note Bigz Die. I love the look of white embossed on vellum so that's what I did with the big heart stamp.

Next is a Pillow Box (from the Bigz Die) made from acetate (used Sticky Strip to adhere the side--you can see it, but since it's still nice & neat, I don't think it matters). I used 2-way Glue to adhere clear microbeads on the stamp.

Have a great long weekend!

Valentine Buffet Appetizer

Just in Time for Thanksgiving--another Hostess Gift

A big thanks to Katie at Katie's Niche for this inspiration (& the tip about adding the scallop punch around the neck): Wine Tags! I saw those & thought they'd be perfect to make for my craft fair tomorrow (and the only one I have before Thanksgiving).

I'd seen these before but for some reason, the purpose didn't click with me until I saw Katie's blog. Duh! Use them as gift tags on bottles you bring as a hostess gift (instead of paying a bunch for a little wine bag). I always looked at them & wondered "Why would I want to put that on my wine bottle?" What does that say about my resistance to giving my wine away?

Anyway, here are some samples all using SU!'s Top Note Bigz Die & a stamp from "Frames with a Flourish" embossed on the bottom in gold with a sentiment inside. In the first picture, for the Christmas one I used the Snow-Swirled set with markers. On the Blessed one, I made a pumpkin with punches (sponge the edges with ink--really makes it pop) & the vine is from "Baroque Motifs."

In the second picture, I used the hostess set "Fall Flair" for the Thanksgiving tag and the retired "Glorious Garlands." If you enlarge the picture, you'll be able to see that there are little snowflakes that I stamped with Versamark & embossed with Irisdescent Ice--adds a really nice subtle sparkle.

Ok--off to bed--got to get up early for my first craft show of the season!

Just in Time for Thanksgiving--another Hostess Gift

Snowflake Die Projects

My poor husband is starting to feel like a "Craft show Widower." I don't know when to stop. I was inspired by the blog "Addicted to Stamping" to buy SU!'s Snowflake Die & I'm so glad I did! (By the way, you have to look at her reindeer punch projects--SO cute!)

Anyway, I came up with a couple of projects using this die. First is a Christmas card holder (or letter or napkin holder). I saw these mesh letter holders in a store & then I was browsing the Oriental Trading catalog & saw a card holder project--combined the two & this is what I came up with. I used an old holiday scrapbooking kit for the paper & sentiment (it's a matted sticker--gasp!). Then I added SU!'s felt snowflakes, brads & Stickles to the snowflake die cut (used a thin white chipboard that backs SU! designer papers). I've had fun decorating each one differently to sell at my craft fairs (made ten--at least if they don't sell, I'll have cute teacher gifts!)

Next is a pretty straightforward snowflake ornament. I layered three die cuts together. They are held together with clear snowflake buttons tied with a bit of silver elastic cord. I also decorated them with Liquid Pearlz & Stickles. I used Shimmery White paper & while you can't tell from the photo, it's quite glittery.

Snowflake Die Projects

Fun with Shrinky Dinks Pt. 2: Barrettes!

While browsing the jewelry aisle at the local big box craft store for my wine charms (& thus with shrinky dinks on my mind), I saw some barrette clips & inspiration hit. It took a while of trial & error to hit on the correct measurements to fit the barrettes (ended up with a White
Shrinky Dink strip of 1" x 5 1/2" for this size barrette). Next, I used a 1/4" hole punch (to thread ribbon through) close to either end of the strip & rounded the corners.

Then I decorated the strip with various stamps (the Christmas trees are re-purposed Birthday party hats from "Party Hearty" by the way). I just used craft ink. On a few barrettes not pictured, I stamped ballet slippers in Staz-on Black & then colored in with markers since I didn't have the right pink in a permanent marker. The water-based dye beads up which creates an interesting polka dot look. That's okay with the small images produced because it still gives an overall pink color but for larger images, I'd splurge for the $1.99 permanent marker :-) I also found that simple shapes worked best since they shrink so small. I tried one intricate pattern & colored it in with permanent markers. However, it was all lost when the image shrunk & everything just blended together. When choosing colors, also remember that the color gets darker or more intense when shrunk.

Once the strip was stamped, it was time to shrink. I simply used my heat tool, holding down one end with a craft tweezer in one of the holes. This also took lots of trial & error because the long narrow shape was very tricky to shrink without it twisting & folding up on itself (& thus getting stuck & ruined!) The best I can describe the winning technique is to start on one end & let it shrink about a third of the way then switch sides. When the strip is shrunk, quickly flip it over & put the barrette onto the back of it. Then, with one side pressed down, pull the other side of the strip up to touch the barrette. You need to do this step quickly so that the strip forms to the curve of the barrette before cooling completely.

Before attaching the strip, I added an optional step of embossing the whole thing. I pressed the strip onto a Versamark pad & then scooped Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder over it. Then, I used my Heat Tool to melt the powder. If you do this too long, the strip will straighten out again. If this happens just re-shape it with the barrette as described before.

Finally, I attached the strip by first putting some Crystal Effects on the barrette & laying the strip down on the barrette with the holes on the strips & barrette lined up. When it was dry, I threaded the ribbon through the holes & tied a bow on each end (this helps the strip more closely fit against the barrette since the shape will not be perfectly contoured). My packaging, once again, is SU!'s exclusive Top Note Die.

Fun with Shrinky Dinks Pt. 2: Barrettes!

Holiday Hostess Gifts: Fun with SU Big Shot Dies

My Moms' Group (for which I made that bulletin board) asked me to show them how to make some "Holiday Hostess Gifts" for a fun crafty morning meeting. I picked two projects using SU! Big Shot dies: the 3D Ornament die & the SU! exclusive Baskets & Blooms die. With a group of at least 10 people, using dies makes it SO much easier to prepare the materials! I could cut 4 sheets of the Holiday Treasure designer paper at a time for the baskets & three for the ornaments. More than that & where the paper is supposed to be scored for fold lines gets cut instead. I recently bought the Premium Crease Pad which is supposed to help you get better fold lines so I'll let you know how many sheets I can cut with that. This picture shows my friends Shannon & Danielle (of Stamp 4 Life Award fame & yes, she wouldn't have missed it three weeks after a C-section!! That's my girl!) crafting away.

Another reason I chose these projects is because they look really cool yet are pretty easy to make. Here's my friend Sue, a self-proclaimed non-crafty person, displaying her handiwork. She even had time to watch Danielle's new baby so Danielle could have her hands free (maybe the Starbucks helped!) :-) I thought it was pretty neat teaching this group because I'd been introduced to stamping myself at a moms' meeting in that very room four years previously. When people get intimidated by this craft, I try to remind them that I was there once too & I'm still learning every day. I love that when it comes to being creative, there's no right or wrong. Besides we're all crafty in different ways. For ex., I'd go to Sue for cooking advice in a heartbeat cuz that is just not my forte. My mom, the gourmet cook, still wonders where she went wrong...



I've made a bunch of these baskets & ornaments to sell at my craft fairs too. For the baskets, I added one of our felt Snowflakes & a bling brad. They are filled with Hershey's kisses. For the ornaments, I used our taffeta ribbon & added a simple bead at the bottom. The paper is "Ski Slope" from the Holiday Mini.

Holiday Hostess Gifts: Fun with SU Big Shot Dies

Fun with Shrinky Dinks Pt. 1

Ah, the craft fair fun never ends :-) My work was just accepted by the Herndon Community Center's Holiday Arts & Crafts Show. So, if you can't catch me at St. Timothy's on Nov. 22, come by the Herndon Community Center (on Ferndale Rd. in Herndon) on Dec. 7. I just hope I have enough stuff!

I can't remember where I first saw Shrinky Dinks used with stamps, but I saw some wine charms (both kinds) on splitcoasterstampers (in the gallery) & decided to try them out. I had all kinds of jewelry-making stuff from when I had the inspiration to make my own jewelry a couple of years ago (got as far as supply shopping!) & I had the Shrinky Dinks from some other inspiration but hadn't used them yet. Now I remember--I saw someone make a baby mobile embellishment on the Carol Duvall Show years ago!

Using Shrinky Dinks is super easy. You can use your heat tool instead of an oven like when you were a kid. Simply stamp with either Staz-on & color in with permanent markers or stamp with pigment ink (I used Stampin' Up!'s Craft Spots.) I punched out the images & made sure to punch a 1/8" hole so I'd have a place for the jump ring or wire. The plastic shrinks to 1/3 its size so keep that in mind. For the ring wine charms, I used crimp beads as extra security that the beads wouldn't slid off & then twisted the end of the ring up too. The new "Cheers To You" set is perfect for wine charms, don't you think?
Another way of making the charms is to use just wire so they twist around the base of the stem. You could even use them for napkin holders or other kind of embellishment--on a key ring or backpack, for example. These take a little more time than the rings (& more beads of course) but I just beaded while watching TV. Jewelry pliers are useful too. I think the Tart & Tangy set is especially cute--think fruity summer drinks!

The other thing I'd like to point out is the packaging. The tops are simply SU!'s Exclusive Top Note Bigz Die folded in half. Super fast & easy.

Shrinky Dinks--more fun than a Slinky :-)

Fun with Shrinky Dinks Pt. 1

Gift Card & Basket

My new SU! Basket & Blooms Sizzix Die arrived last Thurs. & I was leaving Fri. for my H.S. reunion so I had to act fast! I saw a cute beach basket on Colleen Laux's blog & decided to do the same thing to hold the gift certificate for our reunion's organizer. I loved how it went along with her deserving to relax now! The basket wouldn't fit the envelope that came with the gift card so I made a smaller one that just fits the card & then stamped it with some beachy images from "Life's a Breeze" & a sentiment from last year's SAB set "Lots of Thoughts."

I tried using both Sticky Strip & Tombow Mono Multi around the bottom of the basket (on the one my daughter insisted on making for herself) & both worked fine. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it really was to put together. Next time I think I'll stamp it after I run it through the machine, rather than before (you can see the line where the Canvas background stamp overlapped a little). The basket filling is just strips of cardstock that I ran through the crimper before cutting.

I can also report that the basket lasted traveling all day in my purse--it's a hearty cardstock :). I used Kraft by the way (you'll need a strip of 12" x 6" to fit the XL die if you want everything cut out at once.)

& my reunion? A surreally good time :) I was telling one of my good friends (with whom I'd lost touch) that I was doing this now & she asked rather surprised "You're crafty now?" Yeah, I'm still pretty amused by it myself! Of course, we agreed that the scrapbooking part actually does make a little sense because I did always love to take pics & organize them & write captions even before scrapbooking became the commercial behemoth it now is.

Gift Card & Basket