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:

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig Stamp Positioner

I've written the directions for this several times and shown people several times how to use this stamp positioner. Well, here's my first attempt at putting a video here for those who need to see it again!

Faux DS paper technique

This card is made by mimicking designer paper by using a wheel stamp and a single image stamp for the background. I've made a tutorial for this for you here. Try it and let me know how you make out!
The Template grid is here!

All stamps, paper and ribbons used are by Stampin' Up!

Chickadee Card Candy

I was trying to get a chickadee for a Christmas card, and if you follow this blog, you know how I like to make things look real. Here's the chickadee I made with two oval punches, small star punch, 1" circle punch, 1/8" circle punch, and scissors. I tried taking pictures while I was working on the bird, so some of the pieces were modified a bit, and after I took the one of all the pieces, I decided I needed another piece, so that's why there's a couple of extra pictures in the file for pieces.
Let me know if you have any problems with the directions and how you like it!! TFL

The inks are More Mustard and White Craft and the directions can be found in the PDF file that is here.

Tea Bag Holder Gift Card

This is NOT my idea, but when I saw these I thought they were so cool and very easy to make! If you can, check out Sassiangel's gallery on SCS. She's made a lot of these, and has some great ideas for gifts for the Christmas season!! Anyway, I thought these were so cute that I've made some and I also cased her Lovely as a Tree design and stamped that on mine. Here's the picture:
On the left is the mini composition book and on the right is the tea bag holder. The tree has white liquid applique on it to make the snow. I used the Ski Slope DS paper and to give it a little glitz, which you can't see in the picture, I stamped the tree on Shimmery White cardstock. All stamps and supplies are from Stampin' Up!

I have added a PDF file for you to download and print out on cardstock if you wish for the tea bag holder. The page will print on printers which allow 1/4" margins, and there are 2 on a page! Enjoy! And, thanks, Sassiangel!!

Scrap Storage

If you're like me, you have TONS of itty-bitty pieces of expensive cardstock that you just don't want to throw away because you might need it. I always check my scraps when I'm making a card and want a certain color because often I find just what I need there. After several attempts at storing them I've finally found the solution. This is a picture of the Clipitup! by Simply Renee and it works great. This is the base unit, and it stands about 18" high and turns. I have all my cardstock sorted by color into 8 1/2" x 11" page protectors (kind you get at the office supply store) and now I can find it!
You can get an extention for the top to put another tier on, too.

Paper trimmer problems??

Well, here I am again, shopping for a new paper trimmer and thought I'd see what all the experts on SCS said about trimmers. I read everyone's report on all the different trimmers and since I wasn't ready to remortgage the house to buy another one, I decided to fix my Fiskars trimmer.
What's wrong with it? Maybe you have this problem, too... the markings all wear off and I can't tell where I'm cutting! (Yes, the blades get dull quick too, but I don't have a fix for that other than buying new blades!)
Here's my solution to the problem of markings wearing off:

Use permanent markers and redraw all the lines. (This isn't so bad because you can color "special" lines like the 4.25" one in another color!)

Now, this works for awhile, but these lines also wear off, so purchase a roll of Grip-tak clear vinyl self-adhesive. This is truely CLEAR. Contact paper is not clear, it is a little frosty, so it won't work.

Remove the arm carefully so you don't break it and press the Grip-tak down on the metal and smooth out, removing all wrinkles.

Finally, use your craft knife to cut around the edges of the metal plate and remove the excess! Voila! Almost good as new!!