Polka Dots on My Paper Pumpkin

I was pretty excited about the February Paper Pumpkin kit! Since I needed a bag for a thank you gift, I pulled it out and played with it today.

As I was assembling the letters to say "THANKS", I realized that the piece of paper they came on was a perfect polka dot template:

You do need to flip it around to get each corner, but it worked perfectly with a little sponging. I guess you could use the Pistachio Pudding ink spot that came with the kit to do this, too, but I didn't think of it until afterward.

Since it was a flower-themed gift, I just punched out a few flowers with the Fancy Flower punch (item #118073) for the letters and everything else was in the kit!

The lighting seems a little weird today, so apologies for that, but I think you get the idea :)

Here's a look at the February Kit (unless you just signed up for Paper Pumpkin, in which case you received the Welcome Kit):

Thanks for choosing Loni Spendlove as your demonstrator when you sign up for Paper Pumpkin! And FYI: signing up before March 31, 2014 means you get a set of markers FREE in your Welcome Kit...

Do it NOW!

Tag: You're It!

Quickly becoming the most essential tool in my "crafting kitchen" the new tag topper punches are one of my favorite products in the Occasions catalog! Most tag punches punch out the entire tag, so you're limited to one size, but these just punch out the top of a tag so you can choose how long you want your tag to be! It also punches out the hole for a tassel or thread AT THE SAME TIME: It's like TWO punches in one :) Try either the scalloped (#133323) or angled (#133324) tag topper. Can't choose? Get both!  

  

Thanks for watching today. Makes creating bookmarks, tags, and bag toppers quick and easy… 

------------------- SUPPLIES ----------------- 

  

A Banner Day (+Video)

Every living room, every work cubicle, every nursery, every school locker and every holiday needs a banner! It's as simple as this: choose your paper and ink, then stamp and cut using the Big Shot machine. Framelits dies make precision placement a snap, and you'll get perfectly cut shapes every time. 

  
Wood mount bundle #134815 (also available in clear-mount $143816)

------------------- SUPPLIES ----------------- 

  

 Save 15% when you purchase the Perfect Pennants Stamp Set and coordinating Banners Framelits Dies together in the bundle :) Then start making every day a BANNER DAY!

Spectacular Cards: In 3-D!

Some special occasions just call for a splendiferous card, so I'm gearing up to teach you some sensational stamping techniques at the

3-D Card Class!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

at my house in Spanish Fork

10 a.m. ~OR~ 7 p.m.

Cost: $12

Bring scissors and adhesives (Stampin' Up! SNAIL, Sticky Strip and Multipurpose Liquid Glue recommended). 

One of the three amazing cards you'll be creating is the "Card-in-a-Box" as shown here:

It actually folds flat and fits into a regular A-2 envelope to mail!

Register below before February 23rd

Paper Roses

Paper flowers are beautiful but cutting them by hand is tedious, especially if you’re making a bunch. Now you can cut a flower in seconds with the Spiral Flower Originals Die (#129379) and the Big Shot. And you can cut multiple sheets at one time or use different materials. Once the flowers are cut, just roll and adhere. Make one, make a ton—either way, you’ll be done in no time!  

  

As you can see the Spiral Flower die is a fun addition to your Big Shot collection! What will YOU create with paper flowers? 

------------------- SUPPLIES ----------------- 

  

5 Ways to Use Fringe Scissors

Welcome to another edition of "5 Ways on Fridays" where you will learn unique and different ways to use a Stampin' Up! product!

Today we are talking about Fringe Scissors 

Certain projects are easier when you have the right tools and this is one of those tools: Every time you squeeze the handles of your fringe scissors together, you are cutting not once, not twice, but FIVE TIMES! Talk about conserving energy :)

"What can I do with them besides making grass?" you may be asking yourself. You've come to the right place!

1. Fringe scissors make Ombre Fringe cards and tags in a jiffy! For this tag, I used Soft Sky, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana and Island Indigo card stock, along with the new Tag Topper punch:

While you are "fringing", check out this adorable Fringe Chandelier made by Lauren Elise for the Knotty Bride:

2. Create a crepe paper garland! This tutorial from Yesterday on Tuesday shows a few different styles and hello! This is super fast with your fringe scissors:

3.  Flowers or "pom poms" are adorable accents to any project.

Lisa Brown from inkandinspirations shows you how fun and easy these are to make using Stampin' Up! Crepe Filter Paper:


Thanks Lisa!

4. If you cut across your fringe the opposite way, you end up with CONFETTI!

At Stampin' Up! Leadership last month, Shelli demonstrated how to create a shaker card using the confetti made with fringe scissors: Cut the corner of a clear envelope to the size you need (in this case, just a smidge taller than the photo frame die cut). Stamp image on top of clear envelope with Stazon, then seal the confetti in with a thin strip of sticky strip. Place behind the die cut and voila! Shake away!

5. A strip of fringe from Designer Series Paper or crepe paper is easy to adhere around a curved object like a basket or hat brim: 

Image from Spotted Canary

For these medallions, I just punched two circles and cut in from the edge. I used two because when you cut into the circle, some of the pieces fall off and it's not perfectly round, so layering them gives the illusion they are still circles :)

At just $9.95, these scissors are an awesome addition to your crafting toolbox! Order your Fringe Scissors in my Stampin' Up! store today and start living on the edge :)

Let Nothing Go to Waste

After creating a few Valentine Samplers with my Stampin' Family and stamp clubs, I had a few of these squares left over:

Since I couldn't let them go to waste (quilters and scrapbookers, you know what I mean, right?) I had to repurpose them and use them somehow. So I created some simple Valentines for my kids:

Card Recipe (All Supplies from my Stampin' Up! Store)

Stamps: Occasions Alphabet
Ink: White Stazon (Item #106960)
Paper: Marina Mist, Strawberry Slush, Pear Pizzaz & Whisper White card stock. 2013-14 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack (130137)
Accessories: Window Sheets (114323), Big Shot, Typset Alphabet Bigz die (127553), Alphabet Press embossing folder (130916), Pearls Basics Jewels (119247), White Taffeta Ribbon (109070),  Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882) and Glue Dots.

Who WOODn't Want to be Hip?

Psssst....

Small Essentials Wooden Elements accents (#132258)can make a big impact on your craft projects. They're small, fun, and customizable—stamp on them, ink them, spritz them. Looking for just the right words? Prove your hipness with words from the coordinating Hip Notes Stamp Set. They're sized just right to fit on the Essentials Wooden Elements.  

  

The Hip Notes stamp set is also available in clear-mount (#133504)

Thanks for watching. Now you're hip, you're cool, and you've got the 4-1-1. 

------------------- SUPPLIES ----------------- 

  

 Order Here

3-D Paper Piecing: Attention to Detail

My style is simple. Usually. But when I saw the Friday Mashup Challenge for 3-D Paper Piecing, my interest was piqued and this little elephant from the You're Amazing stamp set came to mind:

I did my paper piecing a little different as I didn't have the 3-d glue suggested in the tutorial video, so I cut out the largest whole elephant image (including hat), then layered it on my base with the Multipurpose Liquid Glue, next cut out the elephant head/trunk/hat and adhered that, and finally, the party hat! Other than that, I followed the tutorial substituting the tools I had from Stampin' Up!

It's fussy, detail-oriented work, but I loved the result! You can watch Mariska's tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. 

Combining the Friday Mashup 3-D and color challenge with the sketch from Create with Connie & Mary, here is the finished card:

I've also challenged my Stampin' Family to "Go for the GOLD" so you may notice the gold sequins that add a little bling to the whole thing as an homage to the US Olympic Team :)

If you love this card, you can make one of your own at my 3-D Card Class on February 20th!

Card Recipe (all supplies available in my Stampin' Up! Store):

Stamps: You're Amazing
Ink: Stazon Black, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist stamp pads. Stampin' Write Markers: Smoky Slate, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Marina Mist and Primrose Petals. Blender Pens.
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sky, Whisper White and Crumb Cake card stock. Scraps from Christmas DSP (?), Polka Dot Parade & Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (#126844), Gold Sequin Trim (#132983), Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Circle Collection Framelits, Big Shot, 2-1/2" Circle Punch (#120906), Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (#126187), Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Stylus, Stampin' Dimensionals

Love Isn't Love 'til You Give It Away (+Blog Candy)

It has been a joy to swap sampler squares with my downline and in my stamp clubs and last month we made Valentine squares! Remember as a kid when you said, "I just love that!" and your friends would say, "Then why don't you marry it?!"...I love this one almost enough to marry it, but I'm already taken :)

I especially love how everyone does something different with their squares (thanks to Heather B, Pam C and Shelly S for sharing a smattering of samplers!)

Would you like to gather your friends together for Sampler Swap? I'd be happy to teach you how! 

Since "Love Isn't Love 'til You Give It Away", I've got a little love to share: I have a few extra Valentine Squares to share with someone who comments below by February 9, 2014! Make sure to check back on Monday, Feb. 10 to see if you've won :)

UPDATE 2/11/14: Congrats Meredith! You are the winner! Check your inbox :)