Nuggets & Cards Gift Box

I saw this somewhere, so it is not my idea, but this particular one is my design. You can download a PDF file with directions HERE.

The directions include making the one here (structure only, not stamping!) and also how to make one with a solid clear box top.

These make great Christmas or anytime gifts!

And I had so much fun making them that I made another. This one is much sturdier as I made the bottom of the box out of the single layer white cardboard that comes in a pack of designer series paper.

Using the Sweet Treat Cups

This is part of a video we did for this November Stamp Camp which shows how to use the Sweet Treat cups and also the technique for embossing with dye ink pads. Hope you enjoy it!

Mitered Corners

I have several of the SAR (Some Assembly Required) sets and have made them by stamping and cutting, but these dies are great!! Here's a card I made that uses a technique I teach often of how to miter the corners when wheeling a border around the edges. In this example, I used the clear embossing cartridge and the Baroque Border wheel from Stampin' Up! The directions for the mitered corners are in a PDF file on the right. This card opens and was stamped with the Christ is Born stamp set with fluid chalks and the pop-up tree that was all cut with the new XL Christmas tree die. Here's a shot of the inside of the card:

Cardinal Card Candy

The chickadee was such a hit I thought I'd also make a "realistic" cardinal. We'll all be ready for making Christmas cards with these two birdies!! Here's the picture and the directions can be downloaded here. Hope you enjoy these birds!!

Using the Big Shot

After reading so many posts on different sites and also from having my own customers make mistakes with the Big Shot, I decided to make a movie showing all the different dies that I use with it. My friend, Stacie, and I like making these informative videos, and we hope you enjoy the humor of them, too!
Unbelievable as it is, the "sewing/quilting" industry is now introducing die cutting machines for applique work and the price of the machines those companies are selling is astronomical! I use the Big Shot for all my applique work, too! Just adhere the adhesive bonding material of your choice to the back of the fabric, run it through the die cutting machine and you've got your appliques! I made a St. Patrick's Day flag by die cutting different shades of green hearts and them ironing them onto plain white muslin and then stitching around the edges and stitched the stems.

Vellum Luminary

This is a fun project and very easy! I purchased an electric "candle" which had a waxy overlay decorated for Valentine's Day, but since I could only use it for that month, I decided to take off the hollow candle part and put a custom luminary over it. Since there's no open flame, these are safer than putting vellum over a regular candle. Here's how it's done:

1. With the Eyelet Border punch, punch along both 11" ends of a piece of vellum cardstock.
   
2. With the paper cutter, trim off both of these punched edges so you have two strips of eyelet borders. Set aside.
   
3. Then, trim of 1/2" more (straight) along the 11" side to layer over the top of one of the eyelet borders. (This makes the top and bottom edges stronger and also makes it a little less transparent, giving it more appeal.) Set aside.
   
4. Slide the Embossing Buddy across the large sheet left and stamp the outline of the dogwood blossoms in Versamark 4 times across, making sure to leave 1/2" border on the two ends.
5. Sprinkle with gold embossing powder, shake off excess, and heat set.
6. Flip the cardstock over and color in the images on the backside, REMEMBERING that vellum does not dry fast at all, so don't run your hand over where you've colored. The colors I used are as follows:

Old Olive for the center of the flowers, with Green Galore "bleeding" from the center out onto a bit of the petals; Pretty in Pink was applied to the gold veins of the petals only; Close to Cocoa was the "burnt" ends of the petals; Going Grey for the stem; Green Galore was stroked across the leaves to give highlight, followed by Always Artichoke.

To put it together:

Use vellum adhesive to "tack" the short ends to make the cylinder (overlap 1/2"), then affix eyelet border along both ends with the straight edge on the ends of the cylinder; Affix the 1/2" straight piece on top of the top edge eyelet. Punch 2 holes at the top and bottom edges of the cylinder where all the pieces of vellum overlap and use a brad to hold together.

Just Plain Stamped Designer Paper

It's been awhile, I know, and several people have enjoyed the "Faux Designer Paper" template and made lots of great paper with it. This is for just plain old stamped background paper. I've got a complete tutorial and directions for this for you to download in PDF form so you can see how it's done. You can take any stamp and create a background by repeatedly stamping it over the paper, but with a little bit more thought, you can create a great looking paper that looks like you cut it from a piece of designer paper! Here's the sample card with two different background papers, both made by stamping over the paper: