A Sense of Time Graduation Card

We have admired the Sense of Time stamp set ever since it premiered in one of the mini catalogs over a year ago, and we finally gave in and got it.  It lends itself to inspirational graduation wishes.  This is an easel card using the Bigz clear scallop square die for the big shot.  The color spritzer tool was also used to spray random color over the clock on to the front of the card.  The Happy Graduation sentiment is from our favorite Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

You're a Gem

The inspiration for this design came from Mary Fish's blog. The owl and true friend images come from the Punch Bunch Sale-a-Bration exclusive set.  The "You're a Gem" sentiment is from the set of the same name from the Occasions mini catalog.  The Basic Gray glimmer brads finish off the card.

Lucky Shamrock Card

This card features the Lucky Shamrock a la carte stamp from the Occasions mini catalog.  We love the a la carte stamps for their economic benefit.  The Pear Pizzazz background was embossed using the Stampin' Up! exclusive Perfect Details Big Shot Texturz Plate.

Altered Embossed Tulips Frame

We are so grateful for the ideas that we can glean from other Stampin' Up! demonstrators and creative individuals.  We found instructions to alter the sizing of the new framed tulips embossing folder (available in the Occasions mini catalog) via Lynn Pratt.  The image and sentiment are from the Just Believe set.

Welcome Sweet Little One



Stamp Sets: Cheap Talk & Fabulous Phrases

Cardstock: Blushing Bride & Whisper White

Hostess Level 1 In Color DSP Pack

Ink Pad: Chocolate Chip

Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon

Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Punches: 2 3/8" Scallop, 1 3/4" Cirlce, Corner Rounder & Scallop Trim Border

Sale-a-Bration Punch Bunch Card

This is one of the cards that our guests did at yesterday's Sale-a-Bration workshop using the Punch Bunch stamp set and Ice Cream Parlor DSP, both of which are items that you can only earn FREE by purchasing $50 in Stampin' Up products through the end of March!  The owl and Happy Birthday images both have coordinating punches. 

Recycled Treat Container

These great treat ideas were made using empty Crystal Light containers.  We thought the Artistic Etchings set and the Love Letter DSP provided the perfect images and color combination for an expression of "amour".

And, the container is a nice size to include plenty of chocolate for the ones you love!  The hanging tag idea came from Chiaki Haverstick's (http://www.stampingpro.com/) beautiful card:

Critter Thank You Card

Once again, we are so sad to see the Merry Crittermas stamp set retiring along with the Holiday mini catalog on January 3rd.  This simple thank you note incorporates some of the Jolly Holiday DSP along with the cuddly critter image from the set.  The critter was colored with a blender pen and coordinating classic ink pads.

Happy Birthday Pocket Portfolio

Happy Birthday to Kira's husband, Mark, today!  This is the pocket portfolio that she made for him using the Celebrations DSP and lots of other fun stuff!  This is the same design as one that was posted a couple of weeks ago using the Autumn Spice DSP.  The outside is decorated with the DSP cut using the Top Note die for the Sizzix Big Shot.  The scallop envelope die was used for the inside pockets and the Tasteful Trim die was also used for the scalloped accents above and below the envelopes.  A variety of stamp sets and puches were used for the greetings and star accents.  We wish Mark a very Happy Birthday, and MANY MORE!

We apologize for our absence lately, but hopefully we'll soon be posting some fresh projects as soon as the "holiday rush" has passed.  We wish all of you and your families Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!  And of course, happy stamping in the New Year too!

Big Shot Birthday

This is one of the cards that we'll be doing in Big Shot Club this week.  We used the Basic Birthday Sizzlits Decorative Strip die to create a "drop shadow" (Kira and her big graphic designer terms) with Pacific Point first and then Bashful Blue on top.  We thought it created a cool effect.  The Celebrations DSP at the bottom was cut using the Tasteful Trim die.  And how about the pinata, isn't a fun touch?!?!  This is an image from the Cumpleanos set, which is out of the Spanish Idea Book & Catalog. 

12 Days 'til Christmas Countdown Wall Hanging

Kira designed this great 12 days until Christmas countdown wall hanging using the scallop envelope die, Tags 'til Christmas and Word Play stamp sets, Deck the Halls DSP, and a variety of other great products (punches, ribbon, and texture plates, oh my!). 

Healthy Treat Topper

Here is a quick and simple idea for a healthy treat topper.  We were going to put the popcorn into a cello bag, but then just decided to attach it right to the wrapper that already comes around the popcorn - DUH!!  Why add extra cost and time to it?!  As Tim Gunn (Project Runway) would say...make it work!  So we did!!  You can get this popcorn in large quantities (40) to be exact from your neighborhood Costco.  The shadowed owl and bat idea came from Mary Fish's blog.  The simple part of the whole thing is that it's a 4" x 4 1/8" piece of Old Olive cardstock folded in half and then stamped with the Happy Halloween greeting from the All Holidays set, and the rest of it comes from punches - owl, bird, bat, and 1 3/4" circle.  QUICK, EASY, INEXPENSIVE, and HEALTHY!!  Of course, these are being made for adults, and they hardly want healthy popcorn, so you can imagine that trick-or-treaters would probably give you THE LOOK.  Oh well, take it or leave it - HA!!

Trick-or-Treat? Definitely a TREAT!

Receiving this card would definitely be a TREAT in our book!  The sweet treat cup is filled with new Stampin' Up! In Color Glimmer brads!  Once again, we LOVE how they coordinate perfectly with the other In Color products like cardstock and ribbon.  The "Trick or Treat" was done using the new letterpress plates for the Big Shot.  We won't lie, using those is a bit of a project, as it's recommended that you use a brayer and craft ink with watercolor paper, which is how we did it.  The pumpkins are made with punched circles (2 1/2" and 1 1/4"), and the sweet treat cup fits into the 1 3/4" size.  A snip of Pear Pizzazz ribbon was looped for the pumpkin stems and a snip of Concord Crush ribbon was used for each corner of the Trick or Treat.  In hindsight, we probably should've inked the edges of the circles for shadowing on the pumpkins, but otherwise, we think any stamper or crafter would be happy to get this treat! 

Sweet Centers Halloween Treat

This was one of our club projects from last year.  The image from the Sweet Centers set is embossed in black on brushed silver cardstock, then the center was punched out using the 1 3/4" circle punch to make way for the sweet treat cup.  The image is layered on to a square of Real Red cardstock and then Basic Black cardstock, with the popsicle stick sandwiched in between.  A piece of 5/8" Basic Black grosgrain ribbon finishes it off. 

French Foliage Scrapbook Layout

These pages will be part of our November scrapbook page class (yet to be announced).  The pages feature the French Foliage stamp set from the Holiday mini catalog.  The pages are accented with patterned paper from the Love Letter DSP collection.  The "Family" stamped image is from the Fundamental Phrases set and the quote is from the Leaf Lines set.  The Very Vanilla small rectangle metal holder is from the Hodgepodge Hardware set.  Photo corners were punched out with the XL Photo Corners punch, and the quote is layered on a 1 3/4" circle and Decorative Label. 

It's SEW Easy!

Well, yes, it would be 'SEW EASY' if we knew how to sew!!!  OK, so we cheated and used strips of the new Big Shot multipurpose adhesive sheets to adhere two scalloped squares cut out of the new Designer Fabric using the Big Shot!  "It cuts material", you ask?  OF COURSE, the Big Shot cuts over 50 different types of materials (check with us for the list).  We agree that it would be a quick project for those of you who sew, as you could whip many of these out in minutes!  What a great gift idea!  There is one of our medium flat cello bags tucked inside filled with snack sized Hershey bars, and tied up with our coordinating ribbon.  Each of our Designer Fabric bundles have three designs, all of which coordinate perfectly with the Designer Series Paper of the same name.  The striped material is from the Candy Cane Christmas bundle, and the other one is from the Deck the Halls bundle.  The tags were stamped using our new Tags til Christmas set in the Holiday mini catalog.  The Tags til Christmas set makes it easy, as all of the images coordinate with punches!  This is another project that we'll be doing in our Big Shot club this month.