Retirement Reminder!

With the approach of the new Spring-Summer 09 Catalog release date (Jan 19), I also wanted to remind you that the sets listed on the retiring stamp set list will only be available to order through January 18.

Here are a couple samples using some of my favorite sets:

Retiring Stamp Set: Organic Grace (level 1 hostess set)

It's not too late to schedule an in-home workshop or virtual workshop (via email) so you can earn your favorite hostess set (along with hostess dollars to spend on other items on your wish list) from the Fall-Winter 08 catalog. Just check your calendar and give me a call!

Retiring Stamp Set: Moose You

(Isn't this the cutest set?!)

Be sure to check the retiring stamp set list and place an order for your "must have" sets before it's too late! Either contact me directly to place your order or order online through my website.

Get Ready for the New Year: Make A Calendar

Here's a calendar I made for my sister:

This was one of those last minute projects that I added to my to-do list and was able to complete in about a 3 hour span of time. I somehow forgot to take a picture of November (hopefully I didn't forget to make November). ;)

I used the Create-a-Calendar kit from the Holiday Mini catalog by trimming the calendar section to a 4" square and using the designer paper side of the leftover pieces to decorate the pages. The pages are 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 (half of a regular piece of cardstock). The pictures are wallet sized prints (2x3). I left some of the pages blank so my sister could add her own pictures.

Once I completed all of the pages and covered a piece of chipboard with cardstock for the base, I used the Crop-A-Dile to punch holes for the binder clips (being sure to line them all up). Because the pages had several layers, I punch the holes on each page separately. For re-enforcement of the holes on the base (chipboard), I attached jumbo eyelets.

You can't see the very top of the calendar, but I created a hole for hanging in the center of the chipboard base. Measuring carefully, I marked a 1/2" line in the center so I could punch a series of smaller holes along the line to create an oblong hole. Then I punched a large hole in the top center, so the calendar would hang straight--just like you find on a lot of hanging packages from a store.

Happy Stampin!

Brenda

Merry Christmas... and Valentine's Day too!

I know, I know... it's Christmas Eve and you're probably not thinking about Valentine's Day yet... but it's just around the corner. If you're browsing my blog, you probably have some crafting interest and therefore, Valentine crafting is in the horizon! I just received my Valentine Special "Love You Much" bundle and thought I'd share my first project with you:

The card is about 3x2 (3x4 folded in half) and fits in an envelope made with the SU! exclusive Scallop Envelope Bigz Die. The bundle comes with the Love You Much stamp set, Candy Lane DSP and Heart to Heart punch--all new items from the upcoming Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog and only available now by ordering the bundle special for 20% off the regular retail price of $51.85--ON SALE FOR $41.48! Because of the popularity with this bundle, orders must be placed directly with me until Stampin' Up! can get caught up with filling backorders. So, if you're interested in taking advantage of this special, feel free to email or call me.

I hope you and your family have a joyous Christmas and blessed New Year!

Brenda

Perfectly Pretty Pillow Box Packaging

For those small gifts (candy, chapstick, earrings, necklace, etc.) this little pillow box makes the perfect packaging!

The card stock for the pillow box is cut out using a die in the Big Shot diecut machine--which cuts and scores the card stock perfectly every time. The inside of the box measures about 2" x 2-3/4" with the thickest part being about 1/2". The belly band is just a strip of card stock and designer paper wrapped around the box and secured. I made the flower out of two Ruby Red 5-petal flowers. I also punch a flower out of Kiwi Kiss card stock and cut two of the petals out for leaves. To add dimension, the edges of the flower parts are sponged in the same color as the card stock. The flower center is a half bead from the Pretties Kit.

I can't tell you what's inside of this pretty little box, but I do want to tell you that I cut a 2" x 2-3/4" piece of card stock, punched 1/16" holes evenly spaced to hold the contents and slid it inside... perfectly packaged in this pretty little pillow box! Go ahead, say that 5 times fast... :)

Happy Stampin!

Chipboard Picture Frame

I'd like to share another gift I made. This one is for my husband's grandma... Here's what she'll receive in the mail in the next few days:

You may recognize the wrapping paper and ribbon from last year's Holiday Mini... yes, I'm a hoarder. ;) The tag is made using the Fresh Cuts stamp set.

When she opens the package up, here's what she'll find:

Inside I've created a frame for my sons' school pictures:

I think this is a great way to create something extra special out of those little pictures.

The base of the frames are chipboard, layered with cardstock and Urban Garden DSP. The hinges are made using 2 strips of ribbon sandwiched in between the chipboard and outside layers of cardstock/paper. Here's a close-up:

The stamp sets I used are Inspired by Nature and Calendar Alphabets & Numbers.

To get the different colors on the floral image, I used the marker to stamp technique. Since the Baja Breeze color doesn't come in a marker, I use the edge of the ink pad to color the petals of the flowers before I colored the middle of the flowers with a Not Quite Navy marker. To get the textured look, I bounced the markers on the image to create a sort of pool of ink in those spots. Give it a try!

Happy Stampin!

Bag it and Tag it!

Here's a Bag-A-Lope we made at the Packages & Tags class:

What'a "bag-a-lope" you ask? It's a bag that you make out of an envelope by cutting off one end, scoring it on the other 3 sides (on this bag, we scored 3/4" in from each edge) and puffing it out into a bag. Click here for a basic tutorial.
Here's a close up of the tag. We used Little Felt Flurries & Filigree Brads.


And finally, a gift card tag made with Moose You (which is also retiring... sniff, sniff... I just LOVE this set!):

I got the idea for the layout of this card from my blogger friend Tracy.
And here's a close-up of Rudolph's nose:

Tip: to prevent the ends of the brad from catching on the gift card, I taped over them with a piece of scotch tape.


Thanks for looking! And, as always...

Happy Stampin!

Box It...

Like most people, I've been extremely busy preparing for the holidays, on top of regular life stuff. We're getting ready to go out of town for the weekend, but I wanted to share the projects we made at my Packages & Tags classes yesterday.

Here's the first one... a box:

Here's a close up of the tag--notice I used A Tree for all Seasons stamp set which has been around for a long time, but will be retiring at the end of the current catalog sales period.
If you happen to be searching to see this set in the catalog, you won't find it... it's on the dormant list. So to see the set, you'll need to go to the shopping page on my website and look it up.

Retiring Stamp Sets Announced and ON SALE FOR 10% off!

Stampin' Up! has just released the list of Retiring Stamp Sets. Check out the links for the list in both alphabetical and numerical order. Although these sets will be available to purchase until the end of the Fall-Winter '08 IB&C sales period (January 18), Stampin' Up! is offering a 10% discount off of these sets now until December 23!

AND, would you believe, they are also offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $70 or more through December 23! If you've been holding out on getting anything on your wishlist, now is the time to place your order! Shop now at my Stampin' Up! website!

SPRING-SUMMER 09 CATALOG PREORDER SPECIAL: $10 reserves your copy of the catalog (available to order from starting January 19, 2009), which includes priority shipping to your door as soon as I receive them, $5 coupon off your first order of $50 or more, and a little something extra from me. This offer is only available through me to US residence and will be good until December 31. Email or call me to reserve your copy today!

Happy Stampin!

Ornament Exchange & Gift Bag

I sure hope my friends at Stitch & Gab aren't reading my blog today. If you are and you don't want to see my ornament for our exchange, stop reading right now! :)
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I couldn't wait any longer to share the ornament and gift bag I made for our ornament swap that's coming up next week, so here here it is:

Here's a close-up of the tag:

The ornament is knit and felted. I used a pattern for a man's boot sock as a guide for the shaping of the sock--I cut the stitches from the pattern in half and got the perfect size for an ornament.

The gift bag is a Bag-A-Lope, where you tranform an envelope into a bag. If you are interested in learning how to do this technique, I have a class scheduled on Thursday, Dec. 11, called Packages & Tags where this will be one of the techniques I'll be teaching. Contact me to sign up!

Well, I can't promise this will be the last of my holiday gift postings. I've always had a difficult time with surprises... yes, I'll admit, I used to search the house for Santa's stash as a child. I've even been known to blurt out someone else's surprise (sorry, Sis!). It's not that I don't like surprises... I actually LOVE them! I just have a REALLY hard time knowing something really cool is coming and either not knowing everything about it or not sharing it with someone! I will try to keep my gift postings to projects I have made for my loved ones who I don't think check my blog. :)

Happy Stampin!

Glittery Butterfly card

Glittery Butterfly card
Originally uploaded by bbstampin

Here's a card I made using one of the sets available for 20% off with the Catalog Sampler Special (see post below). This card is made using the Dreams Du Jour stamp set. The other supplies used are Curly Label Punch Bundle, Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, brads, grosgrain ribbon and COSMO GLITTER!

Catalog Sampler Special: Dec 1 - Jan 18

Now until January 18, you can get 20% off of any of the stamp sets pictured in the Catalog Sampler brochure with a $20 order (click here to see the brochure). Here's a list of the savings!

This offer is available online or with orders placed directly with me. When placing an order online through my website, add all of the regularly priced products to your shopping cart. Once you have entered at least $20 in products, there will be an option on the shopping cart page to add any of the stamp sets from the Sampler brochure with the 20% discount. There's no limit to how many sets you can order with the discount, once you've ordered $20!

Happy Stampin!