321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Truly Tailored - Stamparatus Perfect Border Video

I know I've been a stranger. I've been stamping up a storm but between being my mom's caregiver, my day job and preparing for our daughter's high school graduation, this year has been a blur. I did want to share a short video that I made for my long ignored YouTube channel that shows how easy it is to use the Stamparatus to make the pointed navy border on the greeting panel on this card.

The Stamparatus is Stampin' Up!'s new amazing stamp positioning tool that will be available for purchase in our new catalog that launches in June. Take a look at how I could make the border using one stamp and the unique hinge "step-stamping" technique that the Stamparatus makes possible. If you're reading this in an email, click here to see the border technique video.

Enjoy!

Truly Tailored Clear-Mount Bundle
$34.00

True Gentleman Designer Series Paper
$11.00

Night Of Navy 3/8" (1 Cm) Corduroy Ribbon
$8.00

True Gentleman Buttons
$7.00

Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

Double Treat Holder

It's been too long since I've posted (life gets busy doesn't it?) Time to share some crafting fun.

I love fun ways to give little treats. Nothing dresses up a small piece of chocolate like a creative use of paper. So this double pocket treat holder is perfect. Our Simply Scored scoring board makes it easy.

It holds a peppermint patty sandwiched between two pretty paper flowers stamped with the Petal Potpourri stamp set and punched out with the coordinating Flower Medallion punch. (Buy them as a bundle and save 15%) TIP: some brands of peppermint patties now come in square packages which are not crafting friendly so I use the Pearson's brand that I found at Walgreen's) Glue dots hold the flowers onto the candy.

I got this idea from a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers -- click here to see those step-by-step treat how-tos.

Instead of two flowers in the tutorial, I used a tag in the back pocket stamped with the great saying from Lovely Amazing You.

The designer paper I used is Something Borrowed and it's from our wedding suite. I love that all the designs are white and Sahara Sand -- and there are fewer designs with more pieces of each so you can make more projects of one design.

Spread some chocolate love this spring!

I've been enjoying some spring break fun with my family - we checked out the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville to feed our daughter's love of archeology. Such fun.

Something Borrowed Designer Series Paper
$10.95

Petal Potpourri Clear Stamp Set
$19.95

Flower Medallion Punch
$16.95

Petal Potpourri Clear Bundle
$31.25

Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Cotton Ribbon
$5.95

Simply Scored
$29.95

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

Hot Cocoa Envelope Liner Framelits Pouch

Who knew that a Big Shot framelit die designed to line an envelope could instead be turned into a great little pouch -- perfect for holding a gift card, chocolate or in this case a hot cocoa kit complete with candy cane stirring stick. I've got a photo tutorial for this -- and then be sure to check the end of the post for this week's new weekly deals. And remember the Holiday Sale goes through Dec. 2!

Here's a look at the pouch empty -- this version is made from the Coor'dinations Card Stock in Real Red (part of the Brights Collection Assortment Pack and it's on sale as part of the Holiday Sale until Dec. 2!) Because it has a lighter core, I could emboss the snowflakes with the Northern Flurry embossing folder and sand it a little to make it "pop."

This pouch can be made two ways -- with the method you choose determined by how heavy the card stock or paper you're cutting is. Using the largest envelope liner in the framelit set, you can either cut two envelope shapes from 6 inch squares of card stock. Or if the card stock or paper is lighter weight, you can fold a 6-inch by 12-inch piece in half to make a 6 inch square and cut "off the fold." Here's a look at what that looks like when it's ready to run through the Big Shot.

Notice the small gap between the bottom of the paper and the framelit. You want to do it that way whether it's one layer you're cutting or folded into two layers as that lets you cut it from a 6-inch square and save paper. Stampin' Up's regular card stock is 80 lb. -- too heavy to fold and cut off the fold. I experimented and you can fold and cut the lighter weight Coor'dinations card stock or our Designer Series Paper folded.

When cut folded -- you then score the tabs that stick out and this is what it looks like -- note that I also scored the top flap on what will be the pouch's front.

At this point you can decide whether to just adhere the side flaps together or you can cut the ones off the pouch's back for a little less bulk when it's put together. You can see how I cut off the back flaps in this version made with a 6 by 12 piece of card stock (sorry the photo is a little fuzzy).

If you use heavier paper and need to make the pouch from two 6-inch squares that you die cut, the front will look like this once it's die cut and scored.

The back of the pouch will look like this with the side flaps cut off.

When I do it this way I like to put Sticky Strip across the bottom (leave the red liner on) then adhere the side flaps to the back panel with Stampin' Up's Tombow multipurpose glue -- then it's easy to reach in from the bottom and remove the red liner and seal your bottom. It takes more pressure than the sides so Sticky Strip is best there and the glue gives you "wiggle time" on the sides.

I loved the simple decorations on this pouch made with the Snow Day stamp set. The words are embossed in white and I just stamped the eyes, mouth and carrot and punched them out to make a cute little snowman face.

Here are those new Weekly Deals that started today - you can click here to view them in my online store.

Remember the Holiday Sale as well -- only through Dec. 2. It's going so well that Stampin' Up will add some 24 hour specials to the deals just for the last day Dec. 2 -- and on Dec. 1, new custom Valentine's Day products are coming!

Next post I'll show you a very elegant version of this cocoa pouch that a fellow 3-2-1 Stamp team demonstrator made!

Gift Card Slider Photo Tutorial

The sliding element of this gift card holder is not a new idea -- but the clever way to make a flap to hold it closed was thought up by fellow demonstrator Jackie Topa. Then Linda Heller of stampingschool.com took Jackie's tab idea and adjusted the measurements a little. I was inspired to then change up the stamps and come up with my own version. This was a big hit at October classes.

Here's the front -- with ornaments courtesy of the Christmas Collectibles stamps and matching ornament punch. The greeting is from Sassy Salutations. The smaller ornament punched out with the Mosaic punch is from the Verry Merry Tags set. (item #130402)

Open it and you can see how the gift card pocket slides up -- the greeting on that is "Ho Ho Ho" from the set called Oh Goodie!

A side view lets you really see that slider in action -- it's so fun to watch it move in person and have the gift card and the greeting appear.

Here are the steps to make this and a photo tutorial to guide you.

Card stock pieces:

- Crumb Cake Card Base - 4-1/4" by 11", with the 11" side horizontal, score at 1-3/4" from left end

- Crumb Cake Slider piece: 3-1/4" by 6-3/4" - again horizontal in the Simply Scored and score at 1/2" and 5"

- Olive mat for front - 3-1/4" by 4"

- White for greeting - 1" by 4"

- Season of Style Designer Paper behind greeting 1-1/2" by 4"

Once you've scored the card base, you want to use the Envelope Punch Board on the unscored end to punch tabs/notches 1" from each side. Here's what that step looks like.

Next put sticky strip on the side edges of the scored end to make a pocket. Here's that step.

Once you've sealed it to make the pocket, tuck in the tab and use a bone folder to the crease the card where it should naturally fold. (you can look back at the finished card to see how the tab looks when tucked in).

Here's what the slider looks like when scored and with the Sticky Strip where it should go on this piece. The bottom where it says sample will become the pocket to tuck the gift card in. One the other end the tape goes right above that 1/2" score line.

Seal the bottom to make the pocket on the slider but leave the red liner on the other tape -- fold that scoreline back and forth so it's moving well. Then insert it into the larger pocket you made on the card base. Here's what that will look like once it's tucked all the way to the bottom and centered between the card sides -- the top of the slider is flat, meaning nothing is folded under.

Last step is so easy -- you remove the red liner and simply close the card -- it will attach itself to the slider right where it should be and pull up just fine when you open the card.

Here's one more look at the card:

And then here is the handmade envelope I made using the Envelope Punch Board and designer paper.

The ornament "to/from" tag is out of that same Christmas Collectibles stamp set -- click here to see that set and matching punch as a specially priced bundle in my online store. the Cherry Cobbler ribbon is item #132135 -- you can buy it separately but it's also discounted right now as part of these very nice packaging bundles that you can view in my online store.

These slide-up gift card holders are so fun to make and they pack a wow factor without really being difficult (that's your little secret!)

Using the Envelope Punch Board to Make a File Folder Photo Mat

In my last blog post I showed a scrapbook page with a photo mat that looks like a miniature file folder. I want to show you how I made that using our new Envelope Punch Board. First here's another look at the finished page waiting for me to add a photo on the mat.

Now here's how to make it. My page is 8 inches square so I started with a piece of Crushed Curry card stock that was 6" wide by 4 & 1/2" tall. First step, with the card stock horizontal, line the left edge up with the left side of the opening in the punch part of the board -- push down on the punch -- here's a photo of that lined up and ready to be punched.

Now slide the same left edge over to the 2 & 3/4" mark (I like using 2 & 3/4" for this size mat or even to do this effect on the side of a card, but you could slide over more or a little less if you like). Once it's lined up, punch again. Here's how it looks lined up for step 2.

Now you are going to need to cut off the rest of the top edge so that just your tab is left. Our Stampin' Trimmer is perfect for that becaue you can line up the dip with the cutting groove, line the cutting blade up with the dip so you're starting the cut there and only cutting off the part you want to get rid of. Here it is lined up and ready to trim once I lower the cutting arm.

And here's what it looks like once I've made my cut.

You can see the piece I trimmed off. This is very easy to do and you can really have some fun with this technique making mini file folders. It even works if you start with a folded card and do the technique to both sides. I'll share a halloween card made with the folded file folder look in my next post.

Thanks for stopping in. It's Saturday night as I write this and it's been a great day of college football. I LOVE the college game -- always exciting to watch any teams play as they are so motivated by school pride to win.

What are you Thankful for? Scrapbook it.

My scrapbooking club was today and we had a great time making these fall-themed pages that are perfect for sharing photos of the Thanksgiving holiday in a couple of months. The color scheme was dictated by the awesome Sweater Weather designer paper (item #132184) from the Holiday Catalog - Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip and Crushed Curry with lots of gold accents thanks to embossing powder and theAMAZING foil card stock from the Holiday Catalog that comes in gold or silver. (item #132622 in Gold and #132178 in Silver)

I will have a photo tutorial posted Sunday on how to make that cool file folder photo mat with our new Envelope Punch Board.

Here is some detail from page one -- the stamp set Truly Grateful (item # 131733) provided the images -- along with the Magnificant Maple single stamp (item #131868) embossed in gold. See the beautiful gold foil word? It was die-cut with the Expressions Thinlits dies (item #132171) - love these. The trick to get them out cleanly is to put a sheet of wax paper BETWEEN the paper you are cutting and the metal die. That makes it so easy to get the card stock out.

I love how the metallic letters look on top of the Burlap Ribbon (item #132140) -- there is just something I really like right now about organic elements mixed in with chic metallics.

Same effect with all the buttons -- our Naturals Designer Buttons (item #127554) dipped in some versamark ink and gold embossing powder and the heat tool brings out the shine (I hold then with tweezers).

Here's a look at the detail from the second page -- what I call the splash of "found objects" -- it looks like you've been out on a fall hike and decorated the page with the things you picked up from the ground along the way.

I have a cool new Pinterest button that makes it easy to pin photos on your boards so you can save ideas you love. Pin away!

Masking Tape Background Technique

I've been stamping for more than 20 years and I've always loved techniques. Sometimes with art the messier the better -- but sometimes I also like to take an idea that could be messy and clean it up a little to make it easier to use in a class (and to increase the chances you'll use it more often!)

I've been seeing lots of backgrounds lately made by pressing masking tape or preferably less-sticky painter's tape onto an ink pad, then onto card stock -- and when it's pulled back, a neat, artsy deposit of ink is left behind.

But can you say messy? You get ink on your fingers so I thought of a different way to get the same look.

Let's start with the finished card, which features images from Stampin' Up's! Wetlands and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets.

That pretty sunset-look background of So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie and Crumb Cake ink "stripes" is made using painter's tape. Here's my secret to make it cleaner -- I taped the strips of tape to a clear block (and read on to see how brush markers take the place of ink pads).

They are easy to tape down -- I just used double-stick "SNAIL" tape from SU on the back, so the sticky side of the painter's tape is facing out. Instead of an ink pad, I used brush markers to add ink color to each strip -- you can spritz on a little water to give it a little more "juice" if you like, press to vanilla card stock and voila! Cool, trendy, torn tape background with no mess.

Here's what it looks like before you overstamp with the Early Espresso bird image and greeting from Wetlands and the Crumb Cake ink splatter and lines from Gorgeous Grunge.

So get out the painter's tape and "get artsy" -- and you won't even need to get inky fingers! Click any photo to view it larger.

Top Note Treat Holder

This easy little treat holder was an idea that grew from one shared by Linda Heller at the great Stampcation event in Sept. By cllicking on her name you'll see the version we made there using the Paisley Prints stamp set. I wanted to simplify just a little for my October Stamp Clubs so everyone would want to go home and make a dozen more for their Thanksgiving tables. (It makes a great place card if you just write or stamp names in place of the greeting on the oval in my photo!)

The base is two pieces of More Mustard Card Stock cut with the Top Note die and the Big Shot die cutting machine. Line the bottom edge of each Top Note up with the 1 inch line on your Fiskars trimmer and score -- you're lining up the rounded bumps on the bottom edge, just ignore the point.

Put your scored Top Notes wrong side together and punch a hole in the top (that's the edge without the score line) -- I moved this hole to the middle of the Top Note so that's where my ribbon would go (I used the Early Espresso 5/8" Satin -- I loved the little bit of richness with the organic feel of the stamping thanks to the French Folliage stamp set.)

Here's how you overlap the flaps that are made when you fold on those lines. Be sure to adhere them so the pretty folded part of the front top note is on the front of your treat holder. In my case the one you see on the right would be the front.

Now take a look at the pretty stamping even as a surprise inside and there are Hershey Nuggets inside as well (bet you were wondering what was in here!) -- wrapped in address labels that have been sponged with Mustard ink and stamped so you never knew they were white computer labels -- they look like Designer Paper! They're just the 1" by 2 & 5/8" common address labels. I put three in the bottom of the treat holder -- use Mini Glue Dots or I found SNAIL held therse. If you're feeling generous, you can attach three more on top of these and still close the treat holder. FYI -- a 1" by 3" strip of Designer Paper adhered around each Nugget also works -- but the stick on labels are super easy, and again, I want these at each place setting at Thanksgiving!)

That greeting on these is from the Grateful Greetings set -- love this set as it covers Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day. Item # 116511.

Enjoy!

Bedazzle those Pumpkins for Halloween

At Stampin' Up's convention in July they showed a set of white pumpkins that had been dressed up with the Black Flourish Designer Jewels and Spooky Things Decor Elements. I had to make my own set to sit atop an antique Hoosier cabinet I have that had been my grandmother's — but because my living room walls are off white, I went with orange fake pumpkins instead so they'd show up better. I shopped around and was able to find the pumpkins for just $5 each at Walmart. That was a better deal then even using the sales at the hobby stores -- at least where I live.

I needed two packages of the Designer Jewels (item #120987). I love these jewels as they include a clear transfer sheet to make it easier to move the pre-made flourish designs from the cardboard backing to your item or card. I'll show that with photos so read on! I also needed one package of the Spooky Things Decor Elements in black for the words "Trick -or- Treat" (item #120909) -- they also come in a dark gray and as you can see below, I have lots of fun images left over that I can use to decorate windows, serving trays or anything else as the vinyl is removable when the holiday is over. But of course I made my pumpkins with fake ones so I can store and use them every Halloween. 

Here's how I did it:

First I applied by Decor Elements words to each pumpkin by cutting them out. If you need how-tos on applying this great vinyl product, you can watch a video here.

Next is was time to add the jewels and here's a look at the transfer sheet that I mentioned in place over a whole flourish design that I used on the middle pumpkin. The first shot is after I pressed the clear sheet onto the top of the flourish -- just press hard and they stick to it. That white paper you see is the backing sheet as I've peeled it off to expose the sticky part of the jewels. I find that if I cut off excess paper as I peel it stays out of my way.

Here it is pressed onto the pumpkin -- just press the jewel design in place -- peel off the clear transfer sheet, which can be saved to use again -- and you've got one bedazzled pumpkin!

 
Next, here's a photo of a piece of sticky transfer sheet that I cut to use on a partial part of the second sheet of jewels -- that's how I had plenty of smaller flourish designs for the trick and treat pumpkins. (I love that there are also extra lines of jewels in these packages that you can use on other projects.) And remember, the transfer sheet is included in your package.

I did tie various black ribbons and even some of the black waffle paper from the holiday mini onto my pumpkin stems to dress those up as well. Here are close ups of each pumpkin!

This was so much easier to do then I expected. Give it a try. You can find the Decor Elements and Jewels right in my online store at the link in the top right column.

Scallop Trim Border Punch Valentine & Punch Tutorial Video

NOTE: This is the post to check and read to get lots of tips on using the Scallop Trim and Pinking Hearts Border and Corner punches.

I love the new stamps and punches on this card! The I (heart) Hearts set from the Occasions Mini Catalog is so easy to use. I actually have it in our new Clear Mount version and love how easy it is to stamp the black dotted heart first on this card and then add the pretty red heart by looking right through the beautiful Clear Mount acrylic block. Plus see that great DVD sized storage case? I can fit more stamp sets on the shelf! Our cling stamp images are fabulous red rubber with a nice sponge backing and then a vinyl cling image layer that makes the stamp cling to the block. All of the smaller black hearts were stamped with images from the set and then punched out with the Heart to Heart (trio of hearts) punch or the new Small Heart punch (item #117193 in the Occasions). The greeting is the new Well Scripted set from the Occasions mini where you'll also find the hearts. This is the pretty valentine card that guests are making at my home workshops this month.

Now on to the beautiful scallop lace punches! The corner version called Scallop Trim Corner (item #118870) is found in the Occasions mini and the coordinating straight edge is a punch that you can get free right now from the Sale-a-bration booklet with a $50 purchase (item #118402). (It will eventually be for sale in our next big catalog in July -- it says that right in the SAB booklet, but why not get it now for free?!)

There is a little learning curve with any new punch so you'll want to practice with these. But it's worth it as these also are a new slimmer design that folds shut and locks so they take up less storage space. There are some sizes of mats that just line up perfectly to make a nice edge. On this card I started with a black card stock piece that was 3 & 13/16" square. That's just a tick mark past 3 & 3/4". Punch the corners first and then they line up perfectly with the picture guides on the straight edge Scallop Trim Border punch so you can fill in.

Other sizes will give you a complete set of scallops but may require you to punch more than once to fill in between corners. Those sizes include: 4 & 3/4" square; 4 & 1/4" square; 3 & 1/4" square; 2 & 7/8" square; 2 & 3/8" square; and 1 & 15/16" square which lets you punch only the corners to make a pretty mat. You can of course combine a shorter length on the top and bottom of a mat and a longer measurement on the sides and make a perfect;y edged rectangle. Just practice. I find that because there is no v-shaped corner stop you want to make your corners using the punch upside down and using the paper edge guides and then also looking to make sure your corner is in at a nice right angle.

Here's a link to a great blog from fellow SU demonstrator Gretchen Barron who has some wonderful photos of the squares above -- and who calculated these sizes. UPDATE: The fabulous Gretchen has also calculated sizes that work easily in the Pinking Hearts border and corner punches and you can click here to see those. As Gretchen explains, we all might use the punches a little differently in practice, so experiment and see what works best for you. I like using the border punches right side up and the guides pictured on the front when I can -- and then I'll punch from the back as needed when filling in empty space.With the corner version of these punches, I find I need to use them upside down so I can make sure my paper is in the corner at a nice right angle. There is no corner V-stop -- and that's for a reason. You can actually use the corner punch in a row along the edge of your card stock to get a neat triangle lace look. I also love just punching the corners of a mat for a pretty look that reminds me of a quilt block.

SU demonstrator Anne Beale also has shared some great photos and tips on using the Scallop Trim and Pinking Hearts punches and since I believe in sharing and not re-creating a good thing, just click here to see her ideas.

Want to make a mat in a size not listed? Here's a video created by the Stampin' Up home office that demonstrates another way of using these. You start with a larger piece and then design the size as you go.

To see photos of the technique that Bonnie demonstrated in the video, click on the file name I've uploaded at the end of this paragraph for a photo tutorial of how to make the mat where you punch, then measure and cut as you go. Take a look, practice and it's easier than you might think.Download Border & Corner Punch How to