Can't get enough of the gift bags!!!

Hi Stampers!

Today is the last day of the RemARKable Last Minute Holiday Blog Tour - it has been a fun tour of amazing ideas!! I am sticking with my gift packaging theme for you for the last day.

I absolutely love the treat boxes by Stampin' Up!. If you didn't know about them....the chocolate chip/close to cocoa bag/box is a Stampin' Up! item. It is beautiful in itself, I think. They are very heavy and the shiny exterior on them makes them top notch. Not to mention that they are totally food safe. Did you know that alot of paper containers aren't actually approved to hold food items without being wrapped in something else before?? Well....not these babies - they are approved food safe. How awesome is that??

This was super easy to put together! I started by cutting out a Stampin' Up! exclusive die, Tulip Die, in real red. I adhered it o the front of the bag, leaving off the bottom upside down tulip image. Doesn't it really add beauty to the bag? I thought so. I then created a simple tag by stamping the sentiment image, from the level two hostess set Christmas Punch in real red. I punched it with my wide oval punch. I then took the three snowflake image and stamped it in close to cocoa and punched it with the boho blossom punch. I absolutely love that the entire set coordinates with our punches!!! I tied on a piece of gold elastic cord to the tag and threaded it onto a piece of real red polka dot grosgrain ribbon.

"Where are the polka dots?" you ask????? Well....one side has polka dots and the other side doesn't!! Isn't this ribbon beautiful??? And if you want a more whimsical look....use the other side that has polka dots.

Thank you for stopping by my humble piece of the blog world....I hope to see you back again.

It is now time to scoot on over to Deann's blog to continue your ride....

HO HO HO.....

Hi stampers!!

wowzers...this is day three already of the RemARKable Last Minute Blog Tour. I can't believe it.... I sure hope you have been around to the other stops - there is amazing eye candy out there!

Sticking with the gift packaging/bags, I have another sweet gift bag for you today....using none other than my Big Shot!!! And punches too, we can't leave those out!

I started with an ordinary, plain, no nonsense kraft gift bag....talk about no fun! Then I jazzed it up with my pennant santa. His face was cut with the circle scissor plus with blush blossom card stock. His nose was punched with the 3/4 inch circle punch. I sponged some pretty in pink cheeks and on the edges of his nose. His nose was adhered with a stampin dimensional. The eyes are also punched with the 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch circle punches. His hat is real red....I cut it with the small pennant on the exclusive Stampin' Up! pennant die. His beard and hat adornments are the scallop circle punch in whisper white.

Look how sweet he is!!

I sure have enjoyed having you here, but it is time for the next stop :)

I can't get enough of the Big Shot!!

HI Stampers!

Today is day 2 of the RemARKable Last Minute Holiday Tour....I hope you have enjoyed your ride. I feel so fortunate to be a part of such a talented group of demonstrators!!

Wanna see what I made for today??? It is anther gift bag. I absolutely love it and I hope you do too!

The bag background is close to cocoa card stock. I stamped it with the flourish from Barouque Motifs in close to cocoa. Don't you love the candle??? Ooooohhhh....I do. I cut it out with my Big Shot. WHAT!?!??!!? You didn't know we had a candle die for the Big Shot? Well...Actually we don't. WAIT....Don't throw stones at me :) It is an exclusive die to Stampin Up!. It is cut from the Stampin' Up! Bigz XL Table Setting Die. The part of the die that was actually intended to be a tag is my candle. Fun, huh? I cut it out in confetti white card stock. The flames are actually from the same die....they were intended to be leaves. I KNOW!! How awesome is it that Stampin' Up! designs these wonderful dies that are so versatile. Beauty is not only skin deep in our dies! ;) I cut the flames out with more mustard and summer sun. I put a bit of tombo mono multi adhesive down and then glittered up my flame with the Crystal Ice chunky glitter from Chunky Sprinkles. {luv} it! I punched the handle hole with the wide oval punch - easy peasy!

The greenery at the candle base is the sizzlet die, little leaves. I cut them with my Big Shot in old olive and always artichoke. I made a bow out of two scraps of 5/8" real red grosgrain ribbon. I then threaded a sliver of real red card stock through my button, from playground designer buttons, and adhered it to the bow with a mini glue dot.

I really love the look of this bag. I bet you are wanting a pattern for the bag itself, huh?

Well.....lookie here:

It is a front adhered to a small brown paper craft bag!! how easy is that??? I also made a plain close to cocoa layer for the back of the bag. These can be made any size :)

Leave me some love below to let me know what you think of this gift bag. I hope I am inspiring you to make your own gift packaging this year....it is really all about the presentation! ;)

The tour has began!!!

HI Stampers!

This is the first day of the RemARKable Last Minute Holiday Tour....be sure to follow the stops along the way until you make your way back here. When you get back here - you have traveled all of the stops.

I am going to show you a real easy way to dress up a mundane white paper gift bag.

The designer series paper is Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper. It has the nicest sheen to it.....so beautiful!! I tied the two patterns together with a strip of Real Red that had been punched with the eyelet border punch. I wrapped a piece of soft suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon around the panel before adhering it to the gift bag.

As if that weren't pretty enough....I had to add a tag. I used the scallop circle die and my big shot to cut a scallop circle of soft suede. I then cut a piece of white felt and ran it through my big shot with the snowflakes #2 die. Ohhhh....it cut the felt like buttah! And let me tell you my findings about felt. I bought this felt by the yard at the fabric store instead of buying the felt by the rectangle. It is sooo much heavier and thicker than the rectangles....and not very expensive. When....not "if"...but when you try this at home...try the felt by the yard.

I tied it to the bag handle with 1/4 inch real red grosgrain ribbon. I then tied a bow over that with real red polka dot ribbon....delicious!!!

I absolutely love the big shot...it made making the perfect touch for this gift bag a breeze.

Wait until you see what I have in store for you tomorrow using the big shot.....but that will have to wait for now.... ;)

Before you continue on your tour...I would love to know what you think of my gift bag.

**If the link is broken on the picture above....CLICK HERE

Are my snowflakes Serene or "krafty?"

you can decide.....

Today's color challenge is bravo burgundy, kraft and very vanilla. Kraft and very vanilla - me likey....bravo burgundy.....I haven't used that in a while. I don't dislike it...I just find myself not reaching for it as much as other colors. I don't know why..... hhmmm.....

Well, I used it today - and it pairs beautifully with kraft! No surprise there, huh? Kraft is like the George Clooney of papers....anyone could look good at it's side. Whoops! Getting off track....my bad! :)

Anyway...here is what I did:

Is there a more beautiful snowflake set than Serene Snowflakes?? Don't think so!! My main image panel is actually confetti cream instead of very vanilla. I guess I kinda cheated there, huh? I stamped snowflakes in bravo burgundy and sahara sand randomly. I then embossed the entire panel with versamark and irredescent ice embossing powder - YUMMY!!! That was matted with kraft. Wanna see the sparkle????

The vertical panel is bravo burgundy with 5/8 inch very vanilla grosgrain ribbon tied around it. The background panel is confetti cream matted with bravo burgundy. The card base is George Clooney.....I mean Kraft! hehe!!! The sentiment is from Snow Swirled, and it is stamped in bravo burgundy.

I did a little playing on the inside....wanna see?

The sentiment is also from Snow Swirled.

There you have it...two posts in two days in a row :)

Grab your date book.....we have another remarkable blog tour coming!!!

Is your Mojo red hot??

I think mine is.....LOL!!

I stamped this morning when I should have been doing...well...laundry....dishes...vaccuming....cleaning up.....did I mention laundry??? hehehe!!!

But, seriously, I needed to stamp. If I don't get to let some creativity out...I get very grumpy. So I pulled up the mojo monday sketch and got busy.

Here is the sketch.

I had so many ideas floating around in my little head....but I knew I wanted to use some red flocked designer series paper from Christmas Cocoa. Don't let the fact that it is Christmas designer series paper scare you off for using it for other things....I see real potential for some awesome valentine creations with this pack. So anyway...here is what I came up with:

It really is so pretty in real life...

And do not be afraid to stamp on your designer series paper....I did and nothing happened to me....

Did you see the little black tag on the upper strip that "anchors" the white satin ribbon??? That is the designer label punch folded in half length wise and I snipped off the ends flush with the horizontal panel. Cool, huh?

Here is the sentiment up close...I used dazzling diamonds on just parts of the damask image from Friends 24-7 The sentiment itself is from Many Merry Messages - an absolute must have for Holiday Cards!!! I punched the sentiment with the 1 3/4 circle punch. Then I layered it with a basic black scallop circle. WHAT???? You didn't know we had a scallop circle that fits the 1 3/4 inch circle punch to a T? Oh me, oh my!!! It is the scallop circle on the Stampin' Up! Pennant Die for the Big Shot. BAM!! - I hit you with my Big shot! :) That whole sentiment circle is mounted on stampin' dimensionals.

Now what about the inside of the card???? I can't leave it plain 'ol white....right??

I took a strip of the damask designer series paper from Christmas Cocoa and matted it with a piece of basic black that had been punched with the scallop edge punch. This is a fantastic way to use up strips of scraps!! But before I adhered that to the card, I stamped the flourish from Baroque Motifs in basic black that had been stamped off onto scrap paper once. And then my sentiment, also from Many Merry Messages. I stamped it in real red - and I smudged it!!! ARGH!!!!!! This was the very last thing I was going to do to the card....and I smudged it!!!! There, I said it....I smudged my sentiment. :( So what to do, what to do??? I stamped it again onto whisper white card stock and then was going to mat it with basic black...nah! Real red?? Nah!! Whisper white?? I am onto something here.....White on white on white....looks good, huh? I thought so. Oh yeah...one other thing....No one ever said you had to keep the sentiments in the center....go off course...you will feel liberated!

Trying to get my mojo on!

HI All!

Boy, it has been a while! That I get to stamp for fun, that is :)

I started things out with two challenges....a double header for you, so to say! lol!!

First, with the mojo monday sketch challenge and today's scs color challenge to use all neutrals with a pop of color.

here is the sketch:

Now, for the color challenge...I was at first leaning towards kraft card stock...we all know how I feel about kraft. hehehe!! And then I thought...black and greys are listen as neutrals as well.....so I went that route.

Here is what I came up with:

I am in a hurry - bet you couldn't have guessed that, huh? My little one has an ENT Dr. appointment in a bit that we need to get going for.

Somethings I wanted to point out though are: I used the bride specialty paper and a brayer in basic grey and basic black for my designer series paper. That is right!!! My designer series paper started out as white on white paper. You can brayer color over it and wipe off the design...and voila! you have coordinating designer series paper to match anything!!! Also, I misted this with my homemade shimmer spray from my platinum shimmer paint. Now, usually I just mist lightly and hold the card pretty far away from the mist....but today I wanted a spotchy shimmery color all over my whisper white sentiment area - grunge and elegance, is there a better combination?? lol!!!

Here is a closer look at the flowers:

email me to order this:

stamps: they say it's your birthday, flower fancy

ink: basic black, basic grey, so saffron, old olive, rich razzleberry

paper: basic black, basic grey, bride designer series paper, whisper white, shimmer white

accessories: scallop edge punch, stampin dimensionals, plantinum shimmer paint, black embossing powder, heat tool, aquapainter, silver brads, snail adhesive

Home Dec In A Sec Kit!!!!

HI everyone!!

I'm sorry it has been a while....I have been working on things...but I just can't share them right now. ;)

I an offering a Home Dec in a Sec Kit. If enough local gals are interested and would like to hold a class to put these together, I would be happy to offer that for the kit price as well.

Isn't this absolutely adorable, if I may say so myself?????

Enlarge the picture to see in more detail.

This will make an excellent gift for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, friends, coaches!!

I know two preschool teachers and a dance instructor that will be getting one ;)

Your kit will include everything precut to assemble your chipboard tiles and all the accessories to finish it. All you will need to provide is your adhesive (sticky strip recommended) and stampin dimensionals. The designer series paper may vary from the picture, but all designer series paper will be from either Merry Moments or Christmas Jingle.

The cost of the kit is only $16 plus shipping, if it applies.

As per Stampin' Up! rules, I am not able to provide any stamped images in kits. I will provide card stock to stamp images similar to mine here though. If I hold any classes with these kits, we will use my stamps to make it exactly like this one.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....

I absolutely love fall weather and today in western PA, we are having one beautiful, delightful day! So, I stepped back from Christmas stuff I have been working on to make a fall card.

Wanna see?

go-jus, huh?

I used the exclusive two tags die for the main panel. I stamped the image from Wandering Words in the Holiday Mini Catalog. Who couldn't put those stamps to great use??? I inked it up with close to cocoa and inked the leaves with stampin write markers in tempting turquoise, more mustard and dusty durango. I then sponged the edges with close to cocoa and chocolate chip. The designer series paper is from the Holiday Mini also, it is Autumn Meadows, which in my opinion is the most beautiful fall paper Stampin Up has ever had. It is just gorgeous!!! The card base is tempting turquoise that I sponged with close to cocoa. The leaves are cut with the big shot and the leaves #2 die. I then textured them up with texture plates #4 and perfect details texture plate through my big shot. They were sponged and curled up.

Here is a close look at the leaves:

Now, I don't want you to misunderstand just how much dimension is on this card....

So...what do you think?? Leave me some love with your first thoughts of this baby.

Well....off to pick up the little one from school and keep her away from the hubby which has been home all week sick. I had him to the ER and sure enough he has flu and walking pneumonia....argh!!! I just hope my little one does not get it!

I am a sparkly dirty girl....and I have a TUTORIAL for you!!!!

HI Stampers!

I know it seems like I fell off the face of the blogosphere...but I haven't, really :) I am getting ready for the Christmas Card Stamp Camp among other things ;)

I have to be super quick today.....but I do have a tutorial.

I am going to show you how to use your shimmer paint from the Holiday Mini Catalog and make your own shimmer mist. Trust me.....when you use it once, you will be shimmering everything....I mean everything!!

Here are the supplies you need:

rubbing alcohol, small fine mist spray bottle, and shimmer paint.

Shake up your shimmer paint. Take an empty fine mist spray bottle and pour a little bit in.

Fill the rest of the way with rubbing alcohol....and shake....shake some more...keep shaking.... :)

Here is a card I made this morning with my shimmer spray:

It's hard to see any shimmer in the picture, but here is a closer look at some shimmer goodness:I even stamped the inside today:
Sorry....I can't go into extreme detail this morning - have to get the little one from school very soon - but I wanted to give you the shimmer spray tutorial.

It would make my day if you left some love here in the comment section....let me know what you think of the shimmer spray idea :)

Embrace me

....My sweet embraceable you....

HI Stampers!!

Here I am, on Wednesday mind you, with a Mojo Monday Sketch. One of these days, I will get together. Maybe in January! LOL!!! Anyway, here is the sketch this week.

It's a beauty, huh? I will use this one over and over, I'm sure! As a matter of fact. maybe I will see what else I can get done with it this week :)

Here is my take on it:

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - so I thought I would do a predominantly pink card. How did I do?

The card base is melon mambo. Do you like the designer series paper? Doesn't it coordinate with my color combo so well??? It started out black and white - Yep! it's the night and day designer series paper from the Holiday Mini. I altered it by using sponge dauber and pretty in pink, regal rose and melon mambo ink to shade in the flower design. I think this is the most versatile paper Stampin' Up sells because it cam be any color you want it to be :) Anyway....I matted that with whisper white. The vertical panels are also from night and day. I tied a bow with the white satin ribbon. It is so smooth I wanna take a bath in it.....no kidding! Of course, my dry skin would snag it all up! lol!!

I also placed three black brads with white "washers" on the top or bottom of the vertical panels. I used my circle scissor plus to cut the main circle panel as well as the regal rose mat. I used the stamp a ma jig to stamp my sentiment. I also stamped the branch from embrace life on the white circle as well....there is a little bit of it peeking out by the flowers.

Ahhh.....the flowers. This is where my whole card began. I absolutely love the flowers from embrace life!! I stamped them with jet black staz on ink and then colored them up with sponge daubers like the background designer series paper. I also accented the stamens with my white gel pen. Adhered the flowers down....the top one with stampin' dimensionals.

Here is a close up shot that lets you see some flower, background paper, brads and "washers" and some of that heavenly ribbon!!

I would really love for you to leave me a comment here letting me know what your first thought was when you saw this card. :)

Flutter up the Cottage Wall

Yeah.....you heard me right...lol!

I made this scrapbook page last week - when I should have been cleaning ;) Keep it our little secret and no one gets hurt!

I vowed to myself that I wasn't going to get so behind on my daughter's scrapbook this year if it meant that I would scrapbook out of chronological order.....gasp!!! Well....I can not bring myself to scrap dates here and there.....so here I am still showing you Easter stuff for scrapbooking....please forgive me!! {please}

Here is the two page spread:

The designer series is from Cottage Wall. The butterflies are cut with my big shot and the exclusive butterfly die from Stampin' Up!.

Here is the left page:

A few little details about this side....The title was stamped with my jumble alphabet in pale plum. "The Big" was stamped with the calendar alphabet and number set in certainly celery. The subtitle "Good Times" is from fundamental phrases and I stamped it repeatedly with my stamp a ma jig in rich razzleberry. I put little circles in between the phrases with my old olive stampin' write marker.

Also, I wanted to do a little ribbon detail around the photo mat of the vertical picture. I wrapped the rich razzleberry polka dot grosgrain ribbon around it and instead of knotting it I secured it with a pewter build a brad. See that little butterfly??? That was punched out of the designer series paper as well - it pays to save scraps :) I adhered that with a mini glue dot and then put the clear bubble sticker over it. Cute as pie, huh?

Here is the right hand side page:

Boy oh boy....I'm glad to have another page done! :)

I would love for you to leave me a comment telling me what you think.