"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY" . . . SMALL SCALE RIBBON STORAGE

For today's MISM project, I have a really quick ribbon storage option.  Granted, if you have too much ribbon (now, that's just crazy talk) like I do, this is a solution for one little family of ribbon snippets . . . and by "snippets", I mean a few little yards or less. 

I used a Crop-a-Dile to punch holes in the front of this Decorative Window Gift Box from Stampin' Up!, and I wound the seam binding and wrinkle ribbon onto empty spools and placed them inside the box.

There's still room for one more spool (maybe two) and, even though the spools can move around, I hope that having the ribbon wrapped around the spools will keep it from becoming a jumbled mess.

THANKSGIVING DECOR TRIO

These Thanksgiving Home Décor projects are easy to make and will be a nice addition to your home this fall.  In this tutorial you will learn how to make a woodland wreath accentuated with die-cut leaves and a burlap bow to hang on your door or wall.  You are sure to have fun making these quick and easy décor projects.  

This project was designed by Carrie Rhoades, and her tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.

"GORGEOUS GRUNGE" CARD SET

Have you been wondering how you can use the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set? Not sure what exactly to do with it? This project is for you! This fun, grungy box includes five different card designs and five envelopes all using the Gorgeous Grunge and Chalk Talk stamp sets! It’s time to put your Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to use to make this bright and fun cards and box set!

This project was designed by Amanda, and her complete tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.

FREESTYLE FRIDAYS

With her gorgeous multi-layer project last week, Julie issued a mission for me to create something with a minimum of three layers.  It just so happened that I was in a crunch for a card idea the other night, and it was quite nice to have a goal . . . a mission that needed to be accomplished.  I've mentioned aunt Betty in the past, and she's the one for whom this card was created.  She fell this week--gave herself quite a scare--but she's okay.  Very, very sore, but okay.

If you're like me, Easter egg was your first thought upon glancing at this card.  With this being almost Fall and almost October, I can assure you that I was not trying to create any kind of egg, but let it be known that when you throw a few oval layers on an oval-shaped card, particularly when one of those layers features a floral image (colored nicely and looking like Spring), you will probably end up with a lovely egg imposter.  What matters most is that aunt Betty will appreciate the card.  She told me recently that whenever she's not feeling well or just feeling blue, a card will come in the mail from me.  I try to send cards on a somewhat regular basis, but it makes me feel great to know that some of them arrive just when she needs a pick-me-up.  That's just one of the great things about sending cards.  It's so easy these days to send an email or a text, but I believe that neither can brighten a day as much as a greeting card and when I take the time to make it myself, it just has to be even more special, right?

Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla, and Pear Pizzazz card stock, Best of Flowers and A Dozen Thoughts stamp sets, Oval Framelits, Beautifully Baroque embossing folder, and Baker's twine.

ACCORDION MEMORY KEEPER

I have a gorgeous project to share with you today that is a perfect gift for a friend or loved one. It consists of an Accordion Memory Keeper where you can personalize with messages and/or add photos, four thank you note cards, and a one-of-a-kind flower pen. 

This delightful ensemble was designed by Gayle, and her complete tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.

INKERBELLES' SWAPS

Each month, I have a stampin' class that's known as the Inkerbelles' Class.  On occasion, we have had a monthly swap theme but, when I had to cancel classes earlier this year, the swapping fell by the wayside but got started again this month.  There were only four of us who participated in the swap, and our theme was "Anything Goes"--each participant could make whatever she wanted to make.

Debbie's "Box in a Bag"

Tracy's pretty floral-embossed birthday card

Jane's beautifully-colored leaf (she used chalks and a blender pen) on a buffet/place marker.

For my swaps, I used the Envelope Punch Board to create a file folder card from "Winter Frost" designer paper, Expressions Thinlits (for the die-cut "merry"), and "Wishing You" stamp set.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY" & THE WINNER OF THE CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL SUBSCRIPTION

In the Stampin' Up! world, the Envelope Punch Board is all the rage.  While this tool isn't brand new to the general paper craft market, its added value has been brought to light recently by some creative Stampin' Up! demonstrators who have shared some genius projects [created with the tool] that are even more exciting than the custom envelopes for which it was designed.  One such project is a tabbed card shaped like a file folder.  The card that I'm sharing today began as a regular A2 card--shaped like a file folder with one tab--and I used the Envelope Punch Board to create the tab.  I had planned to adhere the oval layers in the other direction to be oriented with the stamped sentiment but, at the last minute, I decided that my card would be a gift card holder.  I ended up cutting some length off the bottom of the card and gluing the two sides together to form a pocket.  The gift card would need some kind of tab/pull mechanism so the recipient would know that it was there, so I used the Word Window punch to create the tab and then decorated it with a punched heart (Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack) and a rhinestone jewel.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to complete this gift card holder include Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, and Whisper White card stock, Wetlands stamp set, Tea Lace Doily, Ovals Collection Framelits, and Beautifully Baroque embossing folder.  The photo below shows the opening for the gift card holder and the decorative tab to pull it from the pocket.

WINNER!  WINNER!  WINNER!  With this blog post, I announced that I would draw the name of a lucky person who would receive a FREE subscription to the September tutorials at Craft Project Central.  I really appreciate those who took the time to leave a comment!  The winner of the free subscription is . . . (drum roll) . . . Jane McAulay, who wrote, "Regina, I just love these esp the color combinations and designs. Well done!!!"  Congratulations, Jane! 

HARVEST PARTY DECOR

Today at Craft Project Central, Jen has this to say about her Harvest Party Decor:  "Decorating my house with Fall décor is one of my favorite things to do!  I love all of the rich, warm colors.  This month I’ve created some simple, new ways to jazz up my home--and yours--for a Harvest Party.  A festive banner can hang from your mantel or window; refresh your cake stands with some die-cut leaves; create gratitude and treat jars, and give those pumpkins a facelift with glitter. You’ll be ready in no time to celebrate the Harvest Season."

This is such a festive looking ensemble!  If you would like to make these projects for your home, the tutorial is available at Craft Project Central.

"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS"

Hello, Friday . . . Hello, YOU!  It's Julie Beaulieu's turn to share an inspiring project for this edition of Freestyle Fridays, and I do believe she has used some favorites of mine . . . love that image with the birds, Cloudy Day (I think) embossing folder, Rich Razzleberry, and just look at all of those layers--with rounded corners!  By now you know the drill . . . to see the whole project and read all about it, let's hop on over to Julie's blog.  And since Old Man Winter is trying to steal the last days of Julie's summer (and because she deserves a little comment love), let's take a couple of seconds and leave a few kind words.

"BEST OF HALLOWEEN" TREATS

I enjoy being a designer for Craft Project Central, and it's time to share the Halloween project that I designed this month.  Soon it will be time to create treats for those special little goblins in your life and, surely, one of these will suffice.  You might just need a festive card or a small test tube, but the decked out bag or box in this ensemble will hold plenty of goodies!  You’ll love the fact that any or all of these festive packages will leave you with plenty of time to select the perfect treats to put in them!

My project tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.  Would you like to win a FREE subscription to this month's tutorials?  I would love to draw the name of a lucky winner but, in order to do that, you'll need to visit Craft Project Central and leave a comment under the blog post where my project ensemble is pictured.  It will be the blog post dated 9-19-13.  On Monday, September 23, I will announce the winner of the FREE subscription.