Moving...Again!

It's official-we're moving again.  This time to a suburb of Chicago.  I only have a few more days until the moving truck arrives.  New York has been nice, and we will miss our neighbors and friends! 

Speaking of friends, here's a project I made for my secret sister last month. 

Its a felt pouch made to look like candy corn.  I used the Big Shot pennent die and cut it out four times, I then cut 3 of the pennents so that I could sew them together to get the different colors of the candy corn.  Once the three different colors were sewn together I used the one solid one for the back of the pouch and stitched it together with the tri-colored one to create the pouch. 

The Big Shot is just the coolest tool ever-it can cut through so many materials!

Can you believe it's October already?

I can't believe September is gone!  When I got my secret sister package Halloween seemed so far off, and now it I feel like it's just around the corner!   I promised a closer look at some of the gifts from my wonderful package so here you go....

Tote-ally Tess craft keeper-it's a plastic storage folder that has been personalized just for me!  Isn't it adorable?  My name was spelled using alphabet dies with the Big Shot.  The entire decorated piece of cardstock was then inserted into the plastic folder and attached to the inside using mini glue dots in each of the corners.

Here is a look at some of the cards, super easy and super cute when you use Stampin' Up!'s Designer Paper-these cards use the Wicked Fun Specialty designer paper from page 172 in the Idea Book and Catalog.

It's been too long!

I know it's been too long since I last posted- I started a new position at work.  I now work M-F and when I'm home so are the kids.  I haven't had much time to do any stamping myself but I did get a package from my secret sister!  What a great surprise to come home to after a long day at work!

Here's a look at some of my goodies

Isn't my secret sister talented!

Brads, Pearls and Daisies-Oh My!

I'll post some close up pictures of the cards she made later-more of the not so scary type projects!

Not so Scary Halloween Project

Today I have a pretty Halloween project to share with you.  It's a wreath made out of fabric and Stampin' Up! striped grosgrain ribbon.  I used a fabric with orange, black and cream colored plaid pattern along with Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie 1 1/4 wide SU ribbon to create this wreath.

The technique is really quick and simple-
1. I cut the fabric with pinking shears (the zig-zag edge) into strips about the same length and width- I didn't even measure them, just "eyeball" it. 

2. Then I cut the ribbon into lengths about the same as the fabric. 

3.  All you have to do after that is tie them in knots on a styrofoam base and that's it! You can alternate fabric and ribbon for a more finished look if you like-I did 2 fabric strips, 1 black ribbon, 2 fabric strips, 1 orange ribbon and so on.

 I plan to embellish it with something else after I go shopping, but that's for another day....
Pretty easy, right?  Email me pictures of your creations when you try this!

This one's for you Honey!

I made a card for my hubby today-he's been very patient with me lately!  I used a stamp set I earned for free during SAB but had not opened yet.  It's called "Things I Love".  This is a pretty straight forward card with stamps, ink and cardstock as well as a few punches and the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

    

The colors are Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, and Whisper White.  Hope he likes it even though it's got girly colors!

Quick Gift

My daughter had a friend over last night and when her mom dropped her off it came up in conversation that today is her birthday!  Well of course the first thing I thought of was what do I have here that I can use as a gift?  I quickly went through my stash of things and here is what I came up with...

Candles and chocolate-two of my favorite things!  Hope she likes it as well!

I made the packaging to match and used a card I already had made.

Cattalog CASE

When the new catalog came out I fell in love with the cards on page 183 that are made with the Hello, You stamp set.  The samples in the catalog were made using the Simply Sent Sweet Hello card kit.  I purchased the stamp set and copied the card with items I already had.  What do you think?

I know the picture is a little crooked, but in my defense I just finished working way too many days in a row!  I also added the Scallop Trim Border punch to the bottom so that it wasn't quite as plain. 

Christmas?

Yep, I've started on Christmas cards already.  I actually started some back in July, but many of them used a lot of retired items.  This card uses Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke cardstock along with the Snowflake #2 Big Shot die in Very Vanilla.

This one I have for you today uses all current items except for one.  The "Happy Holidays" is from the retired stamp set Frosty.  You could certainly use a current stamp set such as Curly Cute in place of the one I used and in fact I plan to get this set in my next order.  It's on page 149 in the 2010 Idea Book & Catalog-go look!

Morning Cup-In Color....

Here's another sample with the new stamp set Morning Cup-item # 116988 (wood mount).  This card is so cheerful when using the new  in colors of Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, and Pear Pizzazz.  The images were stamped in Basic Black and colored in with the markers, then that piece of cardstock was embossed with the lattice embossing folder in the Big Shot.  The "perk up!" saying is perfect for a get well card or just for encouragement for a special friend! 

Morning Cup

I just got this stamp set and have seen so many cute cards made with it, the sayings are so cool!  The gals at the senior center requested a birthday card for their next class and this is one possibility that I came up with.

It was inspired by a card I saw on Stampin' Connection, a resource available only to Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  I changed it around a little including using the "tea"rific saying in between a happy birthday image.  The card's main focal point is the image made with the Stampin' Around wheel called "Take a Sip", item # 120323.  I then used an aqua painter tool and ink squished on the lid of an ink pad to color in the images.  The color combo for this card is Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, and Early Espresso.  

Baby Memory Can

I went to a baby shower this weekend for a coworker and needed a gift. These baby memory cans are the perfect thing!  Here are a couple of pictures of the one I made for Cassie- she loves elephants and is planning to name the baby Gavin-hence the "G" on the lid.   

I filled the can with a matching pen and memo pad so she can jot the memories down.  You can also include other gifts (in this case I stamped a onesie with the elephant) inside. 

The elephant stamped image is from the stamp set Animal Stories item # 116716 and is just $15.95 for the set of 4 stamps.  To make the "G" I used the Serif Essentials alphabet and my Big Shot die cutting machine.  Unfortunately this designer paper has been discontinued, but there are tons of other cute designer papers in the catalog, contact me if you would like to see what is currently available!

Welcome to my new blog!

I've been thinking about a blog for a while, and even went so far as to name it and pick a template but never got any further.  My son Ryan offered to help me . . .  so here I am.  Hopefully you will find a little inspiration from what I post here, I know that's how I begin my hand stamped creations.