"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

This stamp set, "Countryside," was one of the first that I added to my "must have" list when I saw Stampin' Up!'s current catalog.  I don't know what it is about this set, but it just calls to me.  To create my MISM card, I embossed the front of the Crumb Cake card with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  After stamping the image, I cut it into four squares, adhered them to Very Vanilla card stock, and then adhered that layer to Early Espresso.  On a separate piece of card stock, I stamped the apple, cut it out, and then topped it with Crystal Effects.  It has been adhered to the card with a Stampin' Dimensional.  The sentiment is from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" and shaped with the Word Window punch. Except for the drying time needed for the Crystal Effects, this card took 15 or 20 minutes to make.  I almost forgot to mention . . . I used an alcohol marker to color the three pearls on the bottom left of the stamped layer.

EASY PEASY HYBRID CARDS

Both of these cards were designed using Stampin' Up!'s "So Much to Sale-a-Brate Digital Content CD" (which is one of the FREE Sale-a-Bration product selections) and the My Digital Studio software.  I LOVE this CD!!!!  It contains digital images of ALL of the SAB products this year--what a value!  Digital images used to design the cards include Designer Label and Scallop Oval punches, "Ice Cream Parlor" designer paper and flower accents, and a sentiment from the "So Happy for You" stamp set, which has a subtle Pacific Point drop shadow.  After printing my design, I added the "Ice Cream Parlor" buttons and Old Olive ribbon.  On my second card, I used the Sizzix Scallop Square die to cut the printed design.  This was so easy to do because the die is clear, and I could see exactly where it would cut!  Anyone who decides to purchase My Digital Studio during Sale-a-Bration can earn the digital content CD FREE! 

Be sure to come back tomorrow for my snappy Monday project!

FUN STITCHES

When I first saw the "Sew Suite" stamp set in Stampin' Up!'s Occasions mini catalog, my first thought was that I had to have it.  Even though I don't sew, that "tomato" pin cushion reminded me of the one that my mother had (probably still has), and I believe my grandmother also had/has one.  I also really liked the idea of the assorted stitch images on the "In Stitches" jumbo wheel; however, my preference would have been individual stamps and not six assorted images on one wheel.  After some thought, I decided that I could remove the rubber from the wheel, cut the images apart, and use them unmounted or mount them on wood blocks.  I have a very large box FULL of retired stamp sets, so I raided the box and found the perfect set to destroy for the sake of harvesting the wood . . . "Both Way Blossoms" had four 6.25" x 1" blocks.  I removed the labels and stamps from those blocks and used Crystal Effects to adhere the six stitch images to them.  I had to trim each stamp just a bit (less than an inch) so they would fit on the wood.  Still, what a deal!!  $8.50 for six stamps!  Two of the blocks have a stamp on both sides, but they work just fine!  I used two of the stitch images on this card, as well as the new "Sew Suite" stamp set.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to complete this card include "Teeny Tiny Wishes," So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, and Whisper White card stock, aqua painter, Watercolor Pencils and markers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and distressing tool.  Of course, I can see a few things that I would do different and can think of a few additions but, all in all, I actually am very pleased with the simplicity of this design.  FYI:  The blue dot that you see on one end of two blocks indicates which end of the block goes into the corner of the Stamp-a-ma-jig.

"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" FUN FOAM DEBOSSING

With her "Freestyle Fridays" post last week, Julie presented a new mission for me to use fun foam to create a project.  I knew instantly what I would do with the fun foam . . . I would heat it with the heat tool and then stamp into it to create a debossed impression.  The foam that I used was actually a pale yellow, but I sponged it with Early Espresso ink to get the color "just right" and to also make the debossed image more prominent.  This technique is perfect for projects that call for the look of stamped leather, and the color of foam is easily transformed with ink.  It's also very forgiving . . . if you heat the foam, stamp into it, and don't like the look, just re-heat the foam and the image you stamped will disappear, leaving you with the opportunity to do it all again.  Stampin'  Up! products used to create this project include:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, and Baja Breeze card stock, "Newsprint" designer paper, Baja Breeze seam binding, "Sense of Time" stamp set, Scallop Square die (to create the card), Scallop Circles #2 die, and antique brad.

CUSHION ABOVE, BUTTONS BELOW

Some time ago, I bought these cute little jars with the intention of filling them with buttons and topping them with a pin cushion, but I wasn't pleased with my first attempt.  Got a wild hair and decided tonight that I would try again.  This one turned out much better, although I'm having trouble getting the lid to stay on.  I wonder if it's supposed to.  Yes, I really did sew on that button but, to tell you the truth, it's likely that it will fall off in the near future because I didn't have enough thread at the end (or maybe the needle was too long--ha!) to make a knot.  I squeezed a dot of hot glue to lay the thread tails in, but do you have any idea how hot the glue really is?  Uh . . . yeah . . . couldn't find a single finger that I was willing to sacrifice to hold the thread to the glue, so it's just kind of floating around behind the button, probably trying to set it free.  The fabric and big buttons are from Stampin' Up!'s "Candy Cane" collection (2010 Holiday mini).

HAVE A HONEY OF A DAY!

At my class on Friday, the little "Candy Wrapper" box was one of our projects.  When you use the Candy Wrapper die to cut a box, you end up with eight diamond cuts, which aren't needed for the box but can be used as accents on the box or a card.  Stampin' Up! products used to create these projects include:  So Saffron, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, and Early Espresso card stock, "Just Buzzin' By" and "Puns from the Past" stamp sets, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Curly Label punch, Circle and Oval punches, linen thread, pearls, and "Botanical Gazette" designer paper.

REGINABERGER BASKETS . . . COULDN'T EVEN GIVE 'EM AWAY

Late last night, and I do mean "late," I decided that I would make a woven basket since the one I made three years ago (HERE) has become overstuffed.  I have loved that basket but, shortly after starting a new one, I realized that I had forgotten just how much I hated making the first one.  I was very proud of it (the first one) once I completed it, but I would not have bet money that I would still be using it three years later.  The basket pictured here is actually the second one that I started--the first one, which was to look like the first one, got cussed, squished, and tossed in the trash.  I think spit may have been involved, too!  I didn't want to give up, though, so I started this new basket using a less stressful method.  It was not without challenges and mess-ups (covered by the bands), and I had to walk away from it so I could get some rest, but I finished it this morning.  It shaped up to be a woven thing (more like a cup) and will hold a few things, so mission complete.  And now I know why my next basket, if there will ever be one, won't get started before 2014. 

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY" GIFT SACK

This week's snappy project is one of those ideas that you hope to remember when you realize that you need a really quick gift!  I used a mini lunch sack (from Stampin' Up!'s Holiday mini) and covered the front and back with "Love Letter" designer paper.  The monogram is from the "Lovely Letters" alphabet set, which I stamped with Real Red ink onto Crumb Cake card stock and layered onto Very Vanilla.  I tied Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon around the bag, and used a glimmer brad to hold the tag. 

"RAINBOOTS" SHAPED CARD

Last night, I started designing this card using the Gypsy and "Nate's ABC's" cartridge.  There are lots of layers adhered to the base card, which is blue.  For the rainboots, I used bright colored shiny card stock, which is characteristic of real rainboots.  I used Stampin' Up!'s Crystal Effects on the water puddle, which you can see better by clicking on the picture.

"SPRINGTIME VINTAGE" CANDY WRAPPER TRIO

One of my very favorite Sizzix box dies is Stampin' Up!'s "Candy Wrapper."  When I first got this die a couple of weeks ago, I kept cutting boxes because closing the ends is so much fun!  Since these three boxes coordinate with Stampin' Up!'s "Springtime Vintage" designer paper, I decided to join them together to create one little gift package, which turned out to be simply feminine.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this project include Rose Red, Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, and Very Vanilla card stock, Vanilla satin ribbon, "Tiny Tags" stamp set, Jewelry tag punch, Vintage Flower Adornments (Baja Breeze), and linen thread.