Everything is so much easier with a Big Shot and quicker too.

I used my Big Shot on almost everything I made this Christmas.

Using the Scalloped Envelope Die, I made this envelope to hold a few Simply Adorned inserts.

But it's the perfect size for a gift card or a note,too.

Now about the not so great green tinted photo below.

The snowflake is white, I repeat it is white not green. The green wall behind it is making my snowflake look green. Now if I knew how to use my Photo Shop, I probably could have made my snowflake white again but I don't so I didn't. And that's that. I will one day learn how to use it but it's not at the top of my list. It used to be at the top but something happened and it fell down, wwaaaaayyyy down on the list. And it's not one of my New Year's resolutions either.

So now that we have that cleared up, about the project!

I made these for the kiddos so I needed to make a bunch of them.  So that meant quick and easy.

I made the pouch with the Petite Pocket Die. This was the first time I used this little guy and I loved it.

Hmmm…I seem to love a lot of things, don't I.

Anyway, I cut the pouch out and folded it on the bottom fold only…leaving the top crease unfolded. Did that make any sense?

I folded a green strip of paper around the pouch, wrapped white Baker's Twine around it three times and tied it. Then I punched out a WHITE snowflake and attached it with a glue dot and that was it!

UNTIL, I remembered I had the new Stampin' Up! Dazzling Details. So I had to put that on each and every snowflake. Yes, that did take some time but everything else was so quick it didn't matter.

I think everything at Christmas should have something sparkly on it!

But the bad news is that along with the photo being green, no sparkly stuff shows in the photo. Soooo, if you're reading this you're probably a creative kind of person so you will be able to imagine just how wonderfully SPARKLY and WHITE the snowflake is.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!

Envelope Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Winter Post

Inks: Early Espresso and Riding Hood Red Stampin' Write markers

Paper: Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla card stock

Accessories: Big Shot Machine, Scalloped Envelope Die, 3/4" Circle Punch, Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine and SNAIL adhesive

Pouch Supplies:

Stamp Sets: None

Inks: None

Paper: Real Red and Wild Wasabi card stock

Accessories: Big Shot Machine, Petite Pocket Die, Snowflake Punch, White Baker's Twine, Dazzling Details, Glue Dots and SNAIL adhesive

These cute zebra purses were invitations for a little girl's birthday party. She had requested animal print. Unfortunately, Stampin' Up! did not have any animal print paper or feathers. So what to do? Well, I had to go to the local craft store for those items. But all of the other products are Stampin' Up!

The purse idea is from page 111 of the 2010-2011 Stampin' Up! catalog and the pattern came from my Stampin' Up! demonstrator website. I had to tweak the size of the pattern a bit but it turned out to be the perfect size.

You know, if you have ever considered becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, the demonstrator website is one of the fantastic perks you get. I use it ALL of the time! And right now, if you join Stampin' Up! in June you will receive 8 new 2011-2012 Catalogs and 4 current 2010-2011 catalogs instead of 4 new and 4 current catalogs with your Starter Kit. This added benefit will help you get a head start into the new Stampin' Up! year.

In order to make the purses sturdy enough to hold a few items other than the card, I glued the zebra paper to a sheet of Confetti White card stock before I cut out the pattern. Then I scored the fold lines and folded. I rolled the top flap with a pencil a little bit so it would be rounded and fold over.

Because the paper was so stiff after gluing the two sheets together, when I attached the Regal Rose scalloped circle to the purse, in addition to gluing it I punched 3 holes in it(two at the top and 1 at the bottom) and laced the silver cord through the scalloped circle AND the flap so the scalloped circle would be secure and not pop off when I closed the flap!

Note: The silver cord goes through the scalloped circle and the flap at the top but only goes through the scalloped circle at the bottom. 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me! 

Stamp Sets: Please Come Stamp Set (ret)

Inks: Regal Rose Classic Ink

Papers:  Whisper White, Confetti White, Basic Black, Regal Rose, zebra paper (non-Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Silver cord, Regal Rose Grosgrain ribbon, Square Fire Rhinestone brads, half pearls, 5-Petal punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1/16" circle punch, feathers (non-Stampin' Up!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Life has been crazy around my house. I have, as usual, not been able to get all of the things done that I had hoped. And as usual, I've been doing a lot of things that I never thought I would be doing. Like what? you ask. Well….

Yes, that is correct. CHICKENS.

I'm not sure I believe it either. But around here, it's always something.

Anyway, back to the point. To check out all of the discontinuing stamp sets and accessories,click on the Say Goodbye to the 2010-2011 Catalog button at the right. It will take you to my Stampin' Up! website. And don't forget these discontinuing products are only available while supplies last.

Thanks for stopping by! 

I thought I would get a head start on Easter for next year so I made these cute little carrot boxes. OK, so you know that's a big, fat lie. I know you know that I am just now getting around to posting these from THIS Easter. But getting a head start on something for next year just sounded soooooo good. Why, oh, why can't I get ahead of the game?  Please don't answer that. I don't think the answer would make me feel any better!

Now about these carrot boxes. I LOVE them! I have to say these were the easiest things to make. A little time consuming folding the tops but that's because I had to make 22 of them. Other than that they went together in a snap. 

When I decided to make the carrot boxes, I looked around on the internet at a lot of different tops but I couldn't decide which ones I liked best so I took a little from a bunch of different ideas and came up with these. I was very pleased with the end result.

The kids liked them too. I got lots of hugs.

But a word of warning! Be sure to check the size of the candy you will be putting in the carrot. I got the cutest little chocolate bunnies to go inside but they were just a little too tall and the top would not lay flat. And that threw the whole thing out of whack! So I had to go back to the store.

When I started to assemble the boxes, I wasn't sure what type of adhesive to use. In the past, when I've made other boxes, they have come apart if the adhesive wasn't strong enough. So I was concerned. But I was able to use the SNAIL adhesive with no problems except on the one that was embossed. I had to use the multipurpose liquid glue because the surface of the flap wasn't smooth enough to get good contact. I was glad because it would have taken a lot longer to assemble all of them.

To attach the carrot top:

1. Punch a hole in two opposing flaps

2. Thread ribbon through both holes and pull snugly

3. Pull both end through jumbo eyelet set in center of scallop circle

4. Take 2nd piece of ribbon and lay in between the two pieces pulled through center

5. Then tie the two pieces pulled through the center together over the 2nd piece (just once)

6. Then trim the ends to the length you want

That's it. 

Now the top is not really tied onto the carrot box. I did not want the kids to have to struggle with it. If you pulled really hard the top would come off. You may want to actually tie a knot if you want it to be more secure but these little guys are only seven.

The ribbon pieces I used were 12" long. Next time I will make them shorter, may be 10" or 11". I trimmed more than I would have liked. But since it was retired I didn't feel quite as bad about it. 

In the supply list you'll notice a lot of retired items. But for every retired item, there is a new Stampin' Up! item you can replace it with. So not to worry you. I had a lot of  Only Orange and Green Galore card stock left so I thought this would be the perfect project to use it up.

Stampin' Up! colors always coordinate so well with each other. If you look closely at the carrot top in the picture above you can see that I used Wild Wasabi card stock with the retired Green Galore ribbon and still got great results.

All in all, this has been one of my favorite projects. It was simple, easy and in my opinion turned out really good!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Sets: Well Scripted (2010 Occasions Mini)

Inks:  Metallic Gold ink (ret)

Papers:  Whisper White, Only Orange (ret), Green Galore (ret), Wild Wasabi card stock

Accessories:  Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Petal Cone Die, Bigz Scallop Circle Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Extra-Large Tag Punch, Large Tag Punch, 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch, 1/8" Circle Handheld Punch (ret), Flower Punch (ret), Green Galore 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (ret), rhinestone, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, SNAIL adhesive, Multipurppose Liquid glue, linen thread, Jumbo eyelets, eyelet setter from Tool Kit

April 1-31

Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

• Spend $20* on any Stampin’ Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
• Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

Click the graphic (above) for the PDF.

I am lovin' this stamp set and punch! This card was a piece of cake. Punch, punch, punch and it was done. Well, almost. The hardest part was deciding what colors to use. So I whipped out my Color Coach and this is what I got!

If you check out the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog page 12, you will see where the inspiration came from.  The stamp set and punch there, too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp set: Build a Blossom, Sincere Salutations

Inks: In Color Blushing Bride and Pear Pizazz Classic Ink, Whisper White Craft Ink

Papers: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizazz card stock and Pear Pizazz DSP from the Hostess Pack

Accessories: Antique Brads, pearls, White organdy ribbon (ret), Blossom Petals punch, Decorative Label punch, Smooch Spritz Vanilla Shimmer

I keep my scraps for sure. I know, I know, I keep everything. But I will tell you this, I have thrown away more stuff in the last couple of months than I have in my whole life. And they say it lifts you up and makes you feel better. It's a lie. Now I just wonder when I'm going to need it! But it does take up less space.

I made this thank you note with scraps. It's 3 X 3 so the scraps didn't have to be big.

Supplies:  Paper Scraps, 5 Petal punch, small oval punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, button, half pearl, twine, Smooch Spritz Vanilla Shimmer, Stampin' Up! Classic Ink

Thanks for stopping by!

I've never been a quitter but I'm beginning to think I'm doomed to be a day late and a dollar short for the rest of my life. So I'm just going to try to make the best of it.

On a positive note, the tags were completed before Christmas.

And just when I thought I was done, my husband asked me to wrap a few more things…hmmm…maybe I have help not being able to get everything done in a timely fashion. I'm just sayin'.

And it wasn't just these two. I think there were seven or so. But once I got started, I was able to get them all done just in time to walk out of the door with them. One really cool thing about these bags was the fact I used up a bunch of scraps making them and I'm always glad to make room for the new stuff.

OK, now that I have Christmas out of the way, I'm going to do some spring cleaning on all of the drafts I have waiting to be finished and posted. I would say that I'm going to do better getting my cards posted but I'm thinking that just might be a big fat lie. So I won't say it.

But I will tell you that I now have counter tops for my workshop. They are not installed yet but I do have them. I also bought a wonderful old china hutch to store embellishments in. I'm am so excited that my workshop has moved back towards the top of the list. You just don't know. Yeah for me!

But my poor husband has so many projects, I don't know how he decides where to start. So hopefully nothing more pressing will get in front of my workshop. That would be very sad.

But right now it is very quiet in my house, actually it's too quiet. I must go and find out why.

Thanks for stopping by!